WHO AFRO and WHO Rotavirus Regional Reference Laboratory for Africa at Medunsa Campus, Pretoria, partnered to carry out the 14th African Rotavirus Network Training Workshop at the University of Limpopo, Medunsa campus, just completed on 6 June.

The workshop involved participants from 14 African countries (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya [Siaya sentinel site], Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania [Zanzibar sentinel site], Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The meeting this year focused on the IDENTIFICATION AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISATION OF ROTAVIRUS, and the overall objective of the workshop was to introduce participants to the various molecular techniques applied in rotavirus identification and characterization for the purpose of genotyping the rotavirus strains circulating in Africa.

Rotavirus remains the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoeal disease in children under 5 throughout the world. Next issue of the WHO South Africa newsletter will show the highlights and recommendations from the workshop.