SURVEILLANCE OF SMALL ROUND STRUCTURED VIRUS (SRSV) INFECTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1990-5

Data from the national surveillance scheme for general outbreaks of in testinal disease, and the national laboratory reporting scheme were us ed to describe the epidemiology of small round structured virus (SRSV) infections in England and Wales. Between 1990 and 1995, there were 74 92 laboratory reports of SRSV. Rates of reported illness were highest among infants, young children and the elderly. During 1992-5, some 707 SRSV outbreaks were reported. Outbreaks in hospital wards and residen tial facilities for the elderly accounted for 76 % of the total, and a nnual numbers increased more than sixfold over the study period. There were wide regional variations in the numbers of SRSV outbreaks and la boratory reports. Both sporadic cases and outbreaks in the community a re likely to be underestimated, but these passive surveillance systems provide an insight into the burden of SRSV infection among the instit utionalized elderly.