Life-threatening virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea at high levels in the U.S., CDC says

Kids' HealthLife-threatening virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea at high levels in the U.S., CDC saysRotavirus is highly contagious, fast-moving and especially dangerous for babies and young children. Doctors worry declining vaccination rates could lead to more hospitalizations. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The rotavirus oral vaccine, which is given starting at 2 months of age, prevents between 40,000 to 50,000 hospitalizations every year, according to the CDC. Hector Retamal / AFP via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 15, 2026, 4:15 PM EDTBy Lauren DunnIt took just 48 hours for Ben Lopman’s 18-month-old son to go from being an energetic toddler to totally listless.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Lopman’s son Ruben was suffering from severe dehydration from rotavirus, one of the most common causes of diarrhea and vomiting in babies and children. He was so sick, he ended up in the hospital, desperately needing intravenous fluids to keep up his strength to battle the infection.Lopman, an infectious disease epidemiologist now at Emory University, was living in London when his son got sick. It was 2008, five years before the United Kingdom approved a vaccine to prevent the highly contagious virus. The boy eventually recovered. “It was scary,” said Lopman. “It also reminded me how severe this disease can be for any kid.” Ben Lopman’s 18-month-old son, Ruben, suffered from severe dehydration from rotavirus.Courtesy Ben LopmanRotavirus, a seasonal virus similar to influenza, has been rising across the U.S. since January. With infection rates higher now than this time last year, doctors have fresh concerns that declining vaccinations could lead to more severe illness and a higher surge in the coming years. The virus — which is spread by hands touching an infected surface, then touching the mouth — used to be a major cause of severe illness among babies and you...