Severe Stomach Virus Rising in Florida

Florida doctors and national health officials are warning that rotavirus cases are running high, with the biggest danger in babies and young children who can dehydrate fast. (cdc.gov) Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain, and symptoms usually start about two days after exposure. Children can spread it in families, hospitals and child care centers, and the virus is most common from January through June. (cdc.gov) NBC 6 South Florida, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting, said April 15 that rotavirus has been rising across the United States since January and is running higher than at the same time in 2025. WastewaterScan, a Stanford University and Emory University program, has also found elevated rotavirus levels in parts of the country this spring. (nbcmiami.com) The illness hits youngest children hardest because dehydration can escalate within hours after repeated vomiting and diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says warning signs include decreased urination, dry mouth, few or no tears, unusual sleepiness and fussiness. (cdc.gov) Before vaccines, rotavirus was a major U.S. cause of pediatric emergency visits and hospital stays for vomiting and diarrhea. NBC News, in the South Florida report, said the virus once caused more than 200,000 emergency room visits and up to 70,000 hospitalizations a year in U.S. children, citing the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. (nbcmiami.com) The main protection is vaccination in infancy, not a medicine taken after symptoms start. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says rotavirus vaccine is given by mouth, with the first dose due before 15 weeks of age and all doses finished before 8 months. (cdc.gov) The schedule depends on the brand: Rotarix is given at 2 and 4 months, while RotaTeq is given at 2, 4 and 6 months. Florida’s Department of Health directs families to county health departments, pediatric providers and the Florida SHOTS registry for immunization records and vaccine information. (cdc.gov) (floridahealth.gov) Handwashing and surface cleaning still matter, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hygiene alone is not enough to stop rotavirus spread. The virus moves through stool-contaminated hands, objects, food and surfaces, then into the mouth. (cdc.gov) Parents are usually told to push fluids and watch closely for dehydration, because there is no specific drug that cures rotavirus. Johns Hopkins Medicine says severe, persistent or bloody diarrhea needs medical evaluation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says some children need hospital care for fluid loss. (hopkinsmedicine.org) (cdc.gov) For Florida families, the practical timeline is short: babies need the vaccine series in the first months of life, and children with fast-falling urine output, no tears or unusual sleepiness may need care the same day. (cdc.gov)