AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Cholera vaccine will save more than 100 children a year in Argentina

Tuesday, 13 September 2005

Rome (Fides Service) - An anti-cholera vaccine soon available in Argentina could save the lives of up to a hundred children who would otherwise die of dysentery caused by the rotavirus.
The virus identified 35 years ago by an Australian woman scientist is transmitted by mouth and feces and is the agent responsible for actute diarrhea which leads to dehydration and in some cases death for children under five.
In Argentina the virus causes between 100 and 150 deaths a year, one every three days, and about 20,000 children are admitted to hospital for treatment. Experts say the new vaccine could reduce deaths caused directly by cholera by 85%.
Every year Argentina spends more than 77 million dollars on hospital care for people affected by the virus. The new vaccine could help save about 53 million.
A vaccination campaign involving 63,000 babies in 11 different Latin American countries and Finland will study the effectiveness of the product and eliminate possibile side effects. The children include 4,500 in the Argentinean province of Mendoza on the border with Chile.
Until now the only way to fight the rotavirus was hydration since the first vaccine was taken off the market when it was found to cause serious intestinal disturbances. (AP) (13/9/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:24; Parole:249)


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