Overview
- CDC surveillance, which showed 7.3% test positivity for the week ending April 4, marked the highest rate since August 2025.
- Wastewater monitoring detected about a 40% rise in rotavirus concentrations since February as of April 12, signaling high activity in parts of the Midwest and West.
- Clinicians report more pediatric cases this spring, and infants are most at risk of dangerous dehydration from severe vomiting and watery diarrhea.
- Vaccination remains the strongest protection, preventing about 85% to 98% of severe illness, yet national coverage has fallen to roughly 74%.
- Federal vaccine guidance is in flux after HHS moved to drop rotavirus from the childhood schedule and a judge paused parts of that overhaul, and experts disagree on whether lower uptake is driving the spike.