A vaccine protecting young children against a virus that causes severe diarrhea received the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday.

The new vaccine, Rotateq, is an oral liquid intended to prevent infection of a microbe called rotavirus that affects almost all children under 5.

Rotavirus kills about 500,000 children a year, mostly in developing countries, with severe diarrhea. The biggest risks are for children ages 6-24 months.

An earlier oral rotavirus vaccine, sold by Wyeth, was withdrawn from the market in 1999 after it was linked to intussusception, a rare, life-threatening blockage or twisting of the intestine.

Source: Xinhua