Ruth Bishop

rotavirus discoverer

#ShePersisted #WednesdayGirlDay #RuthBishop #vaccineheroes #vaccineswork
#FloreyMedal #vaccinesdevelopmenthero #rotavirus

Dr. Ruth Bishop (1933- )

Rotavirus is a disease that instills fear in every parent with young children. In the past, it often led to hospitalization due to severe diarrhea and, in severe cases, even resulted in death. However, in 1973, Australian medical researcher Ruth Bishop and her team made a groundbreaking discovery. Using an electron microscope, they identified the main virus responsible for this diarrhea and named it “rotavirus” due to its wheel-shaped appearance.

Rotavirus is now recognized as the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis in young children. According to statistics, more than 90% of infants and children under the age of 5 have been infected with rotavirus at least once. Ruth Bishop’s discovery paved the way for the development of a vaccine against this virus, resulting in the creation of the “rotavirus vaccine.” Since its introduction, the number of rotavirus cases has significantly declined, marking a significant advancement in modern pediatric care.

Despite her pivotal contribution to the understanding and prevention of rotavirus, it took 30 years for Dr. Ruth Bishop to receive recognition. In 2003, she was awarded the CSL Florey Medal, becoming the first woman to receive this prestigious honor. Thanks to Dr. Ruth Bishop’s remarkable discovery, millions of children worldwide have been spared from the harmful effects of rotavirus.

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Dr. Ruth Bishop emphasizes that while rotavirus will always be present, we have the means to prevent it from causing further harm.

“The rotavirus is still present, but we can prevent it from claiming more lives,” says Dr. Ruth Bishop.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -The above information has been organized by Maggie Chen.