Is rotavirus contagious?
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. While adults can also get rotavirus, the virus mainly affects infants and children. According to the CDC, 55,000 children in the United States are hospitalized for rotavirus each year.How Rotavirus SpreadsAs KidsHealth explains, rotavirus passes through the stool of people infected with the virus, so rotavirus can spread whenever someone touches infected stool and then doesn’t wash their hands before touching their mouth. As rotavirus also survives on surfaces, you also contract the virus if you touch a surface that’s been contaminated and then touch your mouth.Transmission Time FrameAccording to the Mayo Clinic, you can begin to spread rotavirus to others a few days before your symptoms actually appear. Rotavirus can remain contagious up to 10 days after your symptoms disappear.Preventing InfectionAccording to KidsHealth, thorough and frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent spreading rotavirus.
