The nation’s infants and toddlers are experiencing a highly contagious virus, rotavirus, causing severe vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention display a steadily increasing rate of positive test results since January, with the rise from the week ending April 4 to that of April, increasing from 6.7% to 7.96%. The Midwest and West are leading the pack.
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told NBC News: “The problem with rotavirus is it’s a vomiting illness. You vomit and vomit and vomit. It’s very hard to rehydrate someone by mouth who’s vomiting, and that’s why they end up coming into the hospital for intravenous fluids.”
