rotavirus

It Looked As Though Millions Of Babies Would Miss Out On A Lifesaving Vaccine

12:21pm May 31, 2019

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Last fall, Merck said it would stop selling its rotavirus vaccine to West Africa and redirect its supply to China at a higher price. After NPR broke the story, the situation changed — for the good.

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A nurse vaccinates a baby against rotavirus, a deadly form of diarrhea.

Health & Safety

Merck Pulls Out Of Agreement To Supply Life-Saving Vaccine To Millions Of Kids

4:16pm November 01, 2018

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The pharmaceutical giant will stop delivering its rotavirus vaccine to four West African countries and will begin to sell it in China for likely more than 10 times the cost.

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A cluster of rotaviruses. The image is from a transmission electron micrograph and has been colored.

Scientists Discover The Secret Weapon Of Stomach Viruses

6:10pm August 09, 2018

by Melody Schreiber

New research finds that stomach infections, like norovirus and rotavirus, have a special way to get to us hard — and fast. That knowledge could lead to new, more effective treatments.

A baby receives the rotavirus vaccine during a clinical trial in Niger. The new vaccine is the first designed specifically for children in sub-Saharan Africa. It doesn't require refrigeration and will be cheaper than ones currently available.

Powdered Vaccine Raises Hopes Of Stopping A Top Killer Of Kids

6:54pm March 22, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

It's aimed at rotavirus, a nasty pathogen that can cause diarrhea and kills more than 500 children a day. The secret to the vaccine is the same thing that makes space ice cream so cool.

Becoming a father made Dr. Namala Mkopi appreciate why parents worry so much. He's been a leading advocate for childhood vaccines in his native Tanzania.

Now That He's A Dad, Tanzanian Doctor Is An Advocate Of Prudent Panic

6:08pm January 04, 2016

by Marc Silver

Pediatrician Namala Mkopi shares his new insights into the art of parenting and doctoring. He also tells NPR why people need to pay more attention to a disease no one likes to talk about: diarrhea.