Severe Stomach Virus On The Rise In NJ: What To Know
Patch • • health
Key Points:
- Rotavirus activity remains elevated in New Jersey and surrounding states, with infants and toddlers at highest risk due to severe vomiting and diarrhea that can lead to dangerous dehydration and hospitalization.
- CDC data shows rotavirus positivity rates in the Northeast nearly tripled from early March to mid-April, despite a recent decline after peaking earlier this year.
- Vaccination is the most effective protection, with rotavirus vaccines preventing 85-98% of severe illness and hospitalizations, but vaccination rates have declined to about 74% of U.S. children by 8 months of age.
- New Jersey joined a multistate lawsuit challenging federal changes to the childhood immunization schedule, which removed the rotavirus vaccine from routine recommendations, raising public health concerns.
- Rotavirus spreads easily through contaminated hands, surfaces, and objects, and there is no specific treatment; care focuses on preventing dehydration, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and prompt medical attention for severe symptoms.
