A highly contagious virus that infects the intestinal tract has been detected in parts of California.
High concentrations of rotavirus have been detected in seven areas, including Santa Cruz, San Jose, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, San Rafael, and San Diego, according to data from WastewaterSCAN, which monitors wastewater to track infectious diseases.
The virus has been detected in medium concentrations in an additional 12 areas, including San Francisco, Sacramento and Davis.
The virus is most prevalent among infants and young children, Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, a professor of medicine and public health at USC Keck School of Medicine, said in a phone interview.
“It’s a very common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children,” Klausner said. “Most cases are not particularly severe, and there is generally quick recovery.”
Here’s what else to know about rotavirus.
What is rotavirus, and how common is it?
“Rotavirus was once the leading cause of severe diarrhea among babies and young children in the U.S.,” according to the California Department of Public Health.
Prior to a rotavirus vaccine becoming available in 2006, the disease resulted in hundreds of thousands of hospital and emergency rooms annually, health officials said. With the advent of a vaccine, however, “the number of children getting sick with rotavirus fell dramatically.”
The virus, though, remains highly contagious, health officials said, adding that “low vaccination rates can lead to outbreaks.”
Rotavirus mostly affects children and infants, as adults generally already have immunity from having recovered from a previous infection, Klausner said.
Most children will be infected with the virus by the time they are 3 years old, according to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Children are most likely to catch the virus in the winter and spring, between January and June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms of rotavirus?
People infected by rotavirus will typically start to show symptoms two days after being exposed, the CDC said.
The CDC said the most common symptoms of rotavirus include:
Vomiting and watery diarrhea can last between three to eight days, according to the CDC.
One major symptom to monitor, especially with children, is dehydration, Klausner said.
“Signs of dehydration could be tiredness,” Klausner said. “It could be excessive sleeping, could be just not playing or interacting.”
Other signs of dehydration according to the CDC are:
If there are any signs of dehydration in children, it’s reason enough to bring them to a pediatrician’s office, urgent care, or even emergency room if necessary, according to Klausner
How does rotavirus spread?
People infected with rotavirus pass the virus in their stool, then the virus can enter the environment and infect others, according to the CDC.
You can get infected with the virus if it enters your mouth by:
It is common for the virus to spread in childcare settings, “where it’s just passed from child to child through sharing toys, touching each other or contaminated surfaces,” Klausner said.
How to prevent rotavirus spread
To limit the spread of rotavirus, people should be sure to follow good hand-washing practices, Klausner said. People should also keep surfaces clean and avoid sharing food and children’s toys if possible.
“If a child has diarrhea, they should stay home and not participate in a play date or go to a childcare setting until that diarrhea is resolved,” Klausner said.
Treatment for rotavirus
“There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus infection, but your healthcare provider may recommend medicine to treat the symptoms,” the CDC said.
As antibiotics only fight bacteria and not viruses, they are not effective against rotavirus.
Vaccine best means for prevention, experts say
The best means for protection against rotavirus is the vaccine, Klausner said, adding that “every infant should be vaccinated against rotavirus.”
With the vaccine, Klausner said, “Nine out of 10 infants will be protected against severe disease, which means dehydration and going to the hospital or dying.”
Seven in 10, he said, will be protected from getting rotavirus at all.
There are two different rotavirus vaccines available: One vaccine has two doses given at 2 and 4 months of age, and the other vaccine has three doses administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“It’s important to note that it’s an oral vaccine, so it’s not a shot,” Klausner said. “It’s oral drops that are just administered in the mouth.”
Klausner said that people who may be worried if the vaccine is safe should know potential side effects are “very rare.”
“Doctors believe that the benefits of the vaccine and preventing hospitalization and death are well worth the risk of the very rare side effects,” Klausner said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rotavirus detected in California, here’s how to protect yourself
Reporting by Daniella Segura, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
