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By Jasmine Laws
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Positive cases of the potentially fatal rotavirus have continued to increase this month, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows.
Just over 7 percent of more than 2,000 rotavirus tests were positive in the week ending April 4, according to the most recent CDC data, up from around 6 percent out of almost 3,500 tests the week before.
The data indicate that since the start of the year, the rate of positive tests has increased notably, particularly at the end of March into April.
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Why It Matters
Rotavirus is an infectious virus that primarily affects young children and can be fatal in some cases. It commonly causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, which risks a child becoming dangerously dehydrated, requiring hospitalization.
Diarrhea is recognized as one of the main global killers of children, and rotavirus is among the most common causes of severe diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years worldwide, according to a Johns Hopkins University report on the virus.
Each year, the disease is responsible for 20 to 60 deaths in the U.S., more than 400,000 doctor visits, more than 200,000 emergency room visits and between 55,000 and 70,000 hospitalizations among children under 5, according to CDC data.
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What To Know
Explaining the data, Ben Lopman, a professor of epidemiology at Emory University, told Newsweek that rotavirus is "a seasonal virus," meaning "it follows a fairly regular annual pattern, much like influenza." In the U.S., the season typically begins in late winter and peaks in spring.
"What's driving this year's surge is the same basic biology it always has been: a highly contagious virus circulating through communities where young children are in close contact," he said.
Though cases are at levels similar to previous years, Lopman also said it’s "worth watching closely in the context of shifting vaccine policy."
Siyuan Ding, a professor of molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Newsweek that the rotavirus vaccine was removed from the CDC's recommended schedule earlier in January 2026 and that this may "also be contributing to the higher numbers we’re seeing this season."
"As someone working on this virus for more than a decade, I ultimately want rotavirus to become less relevant over time, with continued reductions in severe disease and mortality," Ding said. "It is therefore concerning to see case numbers trending upward this year."
"My longer-term concern is that if vaccination rates decline, this year's season would be a preview of what could become a more serious problem," Lopman said.
He said the vaccine has prevented somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 hospitalizations every year in the U.S. alone, and that "families with young kids who are unvaccinated, should be aware that rotavirus can escalate quickly."
Lopman has seen this firsthand: his own son was hospitalized with severe dehydration from rotavirus when he was living in England, before the United Kingdom had approved a vaccine.
"He went from an energetic toddler to a sick, listless kid in 48 hours," he said. "It's a reminder that this disease is serious for any child, and that the vaccine really matters."
"Getting infants vaccinated on time is the single most important thing parents can do," he added.
What Are the Symptoms of Rotavirus?
The symptoms of rotavirus typically start around two days after exposure, and watery diarrhea and vomiting can last between three and eight days. Other symptoms can include fever and stomach pain.
Additional symptoms may be felt as the person becomes more dehydrated because of the loss of bodily fluids. These include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears, and unusual sleepiness or fussiness.
While the virus is most common among infants and young children, it can also infect older children and adults, particularly those with weakened immune systems. However, adults who contract the virus typically have milder symptoms.
The virus usually spreads through the stool of an infected person, meaning it can be passed on if you get virus particles in your mouth by putting unwashed hands that are contaminated with traces of the stool in your mouth, touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your fingers in your mouth, or eating contaminated food.
This means that practicing good hygiene, like handwashing and cleanliness, is important, though it is not always enough to control the spread of the disease. The available vaccination is considered by the CDC to be the "best way to protect your child" from the virus.
The vaccination provides 85 to 98 percent protection against severe rotavirus illness and hospitalization, and 74 to 87 percent protection against rotavirus illness of any severity, according to the CDC.
Ding also said another issue to be aware of is co-infection with other pathogens; for example, "rotavirus alongside measles can lead to particularly severe outcomes in young children."
"With measles cases also increasing in parts of the U.S., this is an important area for continued vigilance," Ding said.
What Happens Next
Data from the CDC indicate that rotavirus cases spike in April and then decline over the course of May and into the summer. Given this seasonal pattern, it is likely that the number of cases will slowly decline over the next few months.
Update 4/17/26, 09:45 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Ben Lopman.
Update 4/17/26, 11:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Siyuan Ding.
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