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The Bay Area towns hit hardest by a highly-contagious diarrheal illness
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Rotavirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus causing diarrhea and vomiting, is rising in parts of the Bay Area, with increased levels detected in wastewater from cities like Redwood City, San Jose, and Vallejo since mid-June.
- The virus, which primarily affects young children and can lead to hospitalization or death, typically peaks in winter and spring but is showing a resurgence potentially linked to large gatherings such as World Cup events.
- Health experts attribute the spread to fecal-oral transmission, emphasizing the importance of good handwashing and food hygiene, especially during mass gatherings where shared facilities are common.
- Local health departments are monitoring for outbreaks and have issued advisories to physicians to watch for cases related to public events, noting that increased travel and gatherings raise the risk of disease transmission.
- Although a vaccine exists and is recommended for children, recent removal from the routine vaccination schedule may contribute to rising infection rates among both children and adults.
