The Department of Health today ordered the recall of registered rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, and advised its use be suspended.

The decision follows the US Food & Drug Administration's confirmation on March 22 of the detection of DNA of an extraneous virus, porcine circovirus 1, in Rotarix. The virus has not been detected in RotaTeq, another vaccine also licensed in the US against rotavirus infection.

The FDA said although there is insufficient evidence of Rotarix's alleged safety risk, it has recommended a temporary suspension pending further investigation.

In Hong Kong, Rotarix is a registered pharmaceutical product manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is given by mouth to children six weeks and older for diarrhoea and vomiting caused by rotavirus infection.

The virus porcine circovirus 1 is commonly found in pork and meat products, and is not known to cause disease in other animals or people.