Rotavirus vaccine development for the prevention of severe diarrhea in infants and young children.

Rotaviruses were first detected 20 years ago and emerged rapidly as the single most important recognized etiological agents of severe diarrhea among infants and children under 2 years in both developed and developing countries. They are estimated to cause over 870,000 deaths annually in developing countries. This review highlights recent approaches to the development of a rotavirus vaccine.