Rotavirus cases in children are rising – but a highly effective vaccine has slashed hospitalizations from the virus by 80% in 2 decades

As rotavirus spreads this season, doctors worry that falling vaccination rates may endanger kids.

By: Annette Regan, University of California, Los Angeles, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 22, 2026

Words: 1,083

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

Body Text Preview

By Annette Regan, University of California, Los Angeles

Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily and can make babies and young children very sick. This year, doctors have been seeing more cases earlier in the season than usual.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that almost 8 in 100 people tested for rotavirus have the virus. This is only a little higher than last year at …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.
Register for Free Log in