Northern California is enduring a 'late-spring surge' of rotavirus
SFGATE • • health
Key Points:
- Rotavirus rates remain high or are spiking in several California cities, including San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose, and Los Angeles County, according to WastewaterSCAN monitoring data.
- Health experts, including Dr. Matthew Willis, expect the current late-spring surge to subside soon and do not anticipate a severe summer outbreak based on historical seasonal patterns.
- Rotavirus primarily affects young children, especially those under 2 years old, causing severe diarrhea and vomiting; vaccination by 8 months of age is recommended to prevent serious illness.
- The virus spreads mainly through fecal-oral transmission in close-contact settings like daycares, and handwashing with soap and water is critical for prevention since hand sanitizer is less effective.
- There is no specific treatment for rotavirus; supportive care is provided for severe cases, and symptoms typically last three to eight days after a two-day incubation period.