Several cases of Rotavirus have been confirmed in recent days, causing panic especially among parents with children in schools.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicates that Rotavirus spreads easily among infants and young children.
Rotavirus is an infection that can cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever. It is transmitted orally, through contaminated hands and objects, or by direct contact with infected people’s poop or secretions.
It was first isolated from human stool samples in 1876 by Thomas Lane and Samuel Gee of the University of Michigan, but it wasn’t until 1969 that scientists discovered its true nature as a virus.
Rotavirus causes approximately 30 million infections per year worldwide, with about 70% of those cases occurring in developing countries. The United States alone sees around 100,000 cases per year—that’s more than any other country in the world! In fact, the CDC reports that rotavirus is one of the leading causes of hospitalization for children under 5 years old in the United States—and it’s also a leading cause of severe illness and death among young children worldwide.
It’s important for everyone to know about the virus, because it can be deadly for babies and children who have not been vaccinated yet.
While it may seem like a mild disease at first, it can develop into severe dehydration in some people who do not receive appropriate care.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of rotavirus:
1) Fever (102-105 degrees Fahrenheit)
2) Diarrhea (three or more loose stools per day)
3) Vomiting (more than three times per day)
The good news is that there are several ways to protect yourself from getting rotavirus: hand washing, using disposable wipes when changing diapers or cleaning up vomit/diarrhea (yes!), and avoiding touching your face after having diarrhea or vomiting (we don’t blame you).
The bad news? Rotavirus is easily transmitted.
To avoid the worst of Rotavirus, the World Health Organization recommends that all countries give infants a rotavirus vaccine.