A highly contagious and little-known virus that can trigger potentially life-threatening diarrhea is surging across the US, data suggests.
Latest CDC figures show that rotavirus levels have now jumped to their highest level since April last year.
In the week to March 28, the latest data available, the virus recorded a positivity rate, proportion of tests detecting the virus, of 6.77 percent, which also marked a 24 percent rise on the previous seven-day period.
Separate wastewater data, which tracks viruses in sewage, also shows rotavirus levels are now ‘high’ across all four major US regions.
Rotavirus is common, infecting around 2.7 million Americans every year, and typically records a spike in infections from January to June because the virus spreads better in close proximity.
It is easily transferred via contact with surfaces contaminated with feces that contains the virus.
Infants and young children are most at risk from the infection, which can trigger watery diarrhea and vomiting that is so severe it can cause dehydration — which may lead to hospitalization or death.
Children are normally required to be vaccinated against the virus in the US at two months old, but in January this year Robert F Kennedy Jr’s vaccine advisers said the vaccine should only be offered after a discussion with parents.
Latest data shows that rotavirus levels are surging in the US. Infants and young children are particularly at risk (stock image)
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1998, the virus caused up to 70,000 hospitalizations in the US annually and 20 to 60 deaths in children under five years old. It was the leading cause of severe diarrhea among children.
Today, health officials say these figures are much lower.
Latest CDC data showed that rotavirus levels have risen every week except one in the US since early January.
Separate data from WastewaterSCAN showed that, by region, in the Northeast and South, levels of rotavirus surged 21 percent over the week to April 1, the latest available.
The Northeast is now also registering the highest levels of rotavirus in the US, which are the highest nationwide for at least 24 months.
In the West, levels remain flat, although they are ‘high’ across the region, particularly in the Bay Area and San Diego.
In the South, levels are ‘high’ although infections fell by about 23 percent over the latest seven-day period.
Data was analyzed up to April 1, the most period with stable reporting, after provisional figures for April 3 showed an anomalous spike.
Rotavirus cases are highly seasonal, and tend to rise in winter and cooler months as the conditions force people indoors.
The above graph shows the rotavirus positivity rate, the proportion of tests that detect the virus, has surged since January
Across the US, rotavirus levels are currently considered to be ‘high’ in all areas
People who are infected with rotavirus develop symptoms within about two days, commonly including severe, watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain.
These symptoms can last for three to eight days before subsiding.
In serious cases, it can progress to dehydration. Warning signs of this include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears and unusual sleepiness or fussiness.
There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus, but doctors may recommend over-the-counter medicines. They will also tell patients to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
If dehydration is suspected, people are urged to seek immediate medical attention.
In these cases, hospitals may administer IV fluids to help stabilize levels in their bodies.
Estimates suggest that 74 percent of children under eight months old are currently vaccinated against rotavirus.
In January, Robert F Kennedy Jr-appointed health officials slashed the childhood immunization schedules to make six vaccines, including that for rotavirus, optional for parents.
The panel said that whether a child receives these should now be decided using ‘shared clinical decision-making’ between parents and their child’s doctor.
