Rotavirus Surge Hits 40% Increase Since February, CDC Data Shows

A potentially dangerous vomiting and diarrhea virus is spreading across the country at a rate that is raising alarm bells. Here is what you need to know about the surge of rotavirus, including its symptoms, method of transmission, and vaccination options.

Rotavirus Cases Spike, Raising Concern with Health Officials

The highly contagious rotavirus is making its rounds across the U.S., impacting sufferers with severe vomiting and diarrhea. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put medical care providers on alert for the illness that typically peaks during the usual cold and flu season, rather than during the spring.

Health care experts confirm that the increase in rotavirus infections over the last 4 to 6 months is quite unusual, particularly when compared to the last few decades. The increase is also concerning, as numbers had been down since the rotavirus vaccine became available.

WasteWaterSCAN, a tool used for tracking the spread of disease by testing wastewater samples, listed rotavirus activity as "high" as of a report on April 12. This represented a 40% increase in infections since February.

New numbers from the CDC's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) demonstrate a sharp rise in rotavirus infections beginning at the start of the year. The report from April 4 notes the highest rotavirus infection rate since August 2025.

Diving deeper into the numbers, of the 2,329 tests given the week ending on April 4, 7.3% returned positive. This compares to a low point in January when only 1.66% of the 2,950 tests came back as positive.

Rotavirus is notorious for being highly contagious, causing severe vomiting, watery diarrhea, and fever. Other symptoms include general stomach pain that lasts up to eight days.

The virus is passed through the stool of infected people. The virus particles can pass into the mouth through contaminated surfaces or direct contact with feces. Eating contaminated food is another way that the virus is spread. Most people begin to show symptoms about two days after exposure.

The most serious rotavirus cases result in life-threatening dehydration requiring hospitalization. While anyone can pick up rotavirus, the infections are most common in infants, young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

Young children are the most likely to suffer from dehydration. This is because this age group has higher fluid needs when compared to their overall body weight. Children also have limited fluid reserves, meaning it does not take as many vomiting and diarrhea episodes to deplete these stores.

The fecal-oral transmission pathway means that the virus is most commonly spread among family members. Rotavirus is also more likely to spread in hospitals and childcare centers.

There are no treatments that can reduce the duration of rotavirus. Patients are primarily treated for dehydration and for general discomfort.

Being able to recognize the symptoms of dehydration is important, particularly when caring for infants and young children suffering from rotavirus. These symptoms include decreased urination, dizziness, dry mouth and throat, fatigue and fussiness, and crying without producing tears.

What to Know About the Rotavirus Vaccine

While there is now a vaccine available for rotavirus, the vaccination rates have been declining in recent years. The CDC said that vaccination remains the most effective line of defense against rotavirus. This vaccine is given orally as drops to infants between the ages of two and six months. The vaccine is considered to be highly effective, preventing severe cases of the virus in 90% of recipients. The complete prevention rate is 70%.

Prior to the advent of the vaccine, rotavirus was responsible for over 400,000 doctor visits and 200,000 emergency room visits per year. Roughly 70,000 children were hospitalized annually. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (NFID), 20 to 60 deaths per year were blamed on rotavirus before the vaccine.

The availability of the vaccine has prevented approximately 60,000 hospitalizations. Although vaccination rates had been rising a few years ago, the immunization protecting against rotavirus was one of the four that were recently removed from the official CDC childhood schedule. These removals were made under the direction of U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. Kennedy defended the controversial decision, saying that the vaccination schedule of the U.S. now aligns with that of other developed countries.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) came out against Kennedy's recommendation. The AAP further responded by releasing its own vaccination schedule in August of 2025. Kennedy further criticized the AAP, accusing it of being under the influence of the corporate pharmaceutical industry.

In addition to staying on top of vaccination recommendations, good strategies to prevent the spread of the virus include proper handwashing and isolating sick individuals. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not typically kill the particles that lead to rotavirus. Instead, it is important to wash your hands with plenty of warm water and soap.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.