ENTERIC VIRAL-INFECTIONS IN GAZA CHILDREN - INCIDENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AND PHENOMENA

Regular administration of live attenuated polio vaccine (TOPV) to babi es in Gaza failed to give adequate protection against infection and di sease with wild polio viruses. The possible interference of the: ''tak e'' of the vaccine was investigated by obtaining demographic, socioeco nomic and virological data. More than 100 babies during their first ye ar of life, and their families, were followed. Enteroviruses were isol ated in 25.3% and 7.9% of stool samples obtained from healthy babies a nd babies with diarrhea, respectively. In the same cases, rotaviruses were detected in only 1.9% and 1.4% respectively. It appears that the most common candidates for viral interference in this population are e nteroviruses and not rotaviruses, either in healthy babies or in babie s suffering from diarrhea.