Hospital-based surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis in children younger than 5 years of age in Ethiopia: 2007-2012.

Background: Rotavirus surveillance was initiated in Ethiopia to estimate the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age, to generate data to assist the policy-making process for new vaccine introduction and to monitor impact of vaccination on disease burden after introduction.

Methods: Sentinel surveillance was conducted at 3 hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia using a standardized WHO surveillance protocol from August 2007 to March 2012. Children <5 years of age, hospitalized for the primary reason of treatment for acute gastroenteritis, were enrolled, stool samples were collected and tested for group A rotavirus using an enzyme immunoassay.

The epidemiology of rubella disease in Ethiopia: data from the measles case-based surveillance system.

Background: Rubella is usually a mild rash illness. However, when a woman contracts rubella early in pregnancy, serious consequences may occur, including birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Information is limited on the epidemiology of rubella and CRS in Ethiopia.

Progress in measles mortality reduction in Ethiopia, 2002-2009.

Background: In 2002, Ethiopia adopted the African regional accelerated measles control strategies to reduce measles mortality. Routine measles vaccination is provided for infants at 9 months of age. A second opportunity for measles vaccination through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) started in 2002, targeting children aged 6 months-14 years; periodic follow-up SIAs were conducted, targeting children aged 6-59 months from 2005 through 2009.

Analysis and reporting of meningococcal meningitis epidemic in north Gondar 2001-2002.

Severe epidemic meningococcal meningitis occurs in countries of the meningitis belt of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Many epidemics occurred in this country in the past decade, the recent being in 2000 in Addis Ababa unusually during the wet and rainy season. The study was a cross-sectional design.