In 2004, 3,821 rotavirus infections were laboratory confirmed in 59 laboratories of the Czech Republic. Latex agglutination test is used by 34, i.e. 57.6 %, of these diagnostic laboratories. Children under 3 years of age prevailed among the persons tested and positivity was confirmed in 20.8 % of these children. Specific morbidity in this age group was 675 cases/100.000 population/year. As many as 2,146 sporadic cases and 413 cases from 17 outbreaks were reported to the Public Health Service in 2004. Altogether 57.9 % of laboratory confirmed infections were reported. Nine probably imported cases and two fatal cases (in a 96-year-old woman and a 8-month-old boy) were recorded. Data from 1998–2004 confirm concern about rotavirus infections. The incidence rates of rotavirus infections peaked between January and May during the study period.

        Key words: rotavirus infections – laboratory surveillance – death – incidence – seasonal trend.