Skip to main content
Home

    Main navigation

    • Home
    • About the report
    • Diseases
      • Hib disease
      • Hepatitis A
      • Hepatitis B
      • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
      • Measles
      • Meningococcal
      • Mumps
      • Pertussis
      • Pneumococcal disease
      • Rare Diseases
      • Rotavirus
      • Seasonal influenza
      • Varicella-zoster virus infection
    • Social determinants of health
    • Timeliness
    • Useful links

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Diseases
  3. Rotavirus
  • The disease
  • Transmission
  • Signs and symptoms
  • Vaccination recommendations and coverage
  • Who is most affected?
  • How common is it?
  • Hospitalisations/deaths
  • Comment
  • Links and resources

Rotavirus

Key Findings

The disease

Rotavirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis (diarrhoea) in young children and babies. Around 1 in 75 infected children will develop severe disease leading to dehydration.

Transmission

Rotavirus is spread when virus from the faeces of one person is swallowed by another person. This is also known as faecal–oral transmission. When proper hand hygiene (washing hands) is not carried out after changing nappies or going to the bathroom, virus can be on the hands and then be left on surfaces. It can then spread through hand shaking, by touching other objects or when preparing food.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms come on 1–3 days after being exposed to the virus. They include:

  • watery diarrhoea
  • vomiting
  • fever.

Severe cases can lead to dehydration.

Infants under 3 months may not show any symptoms.

Vaccination recommendations and coverage

Rotavirus vaccination has been funded under the National Immunisation Program since 2006. Since 2017, all states use the same 2-dose vaccine schedule, with vaccinations recommended at 2 and 4 months of age. Immunisation of older children and adults is not recommended.

Who is most affected?

Infants who are not immune to rotavirus – either from past infection or from vaccination – are at greater risk of the disease.

How common is it?

In the reporting period 1 July 2018–2019, there was a total of 7911 rotavirus notifications in Australia, 499 of which (9.1%) were in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Across all age groups under 5 years, notification rates were higher in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander than in other children, particularly in the 6 months to <1 year age group.

Hospitalisations/deaths

During the reporting period 2016–2019, there were 4145 hospitalisations for rotavirus in Australia; 518 (12.4%) of these were recorded as being in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Overall hospitalisation rates were 2.8 times higher for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people than for other people, and 8 times higher in the 6 months to 1 year age group.

There were seven recorded deaths where rotavirus was reported as an underlying or associated cause of death, of which 1–5 were recorded as being in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Comment

  • Rotavirus hospitalisation rates in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander infants have decreased by approximately 80% since the introduction of the national rotavirus immunisation program in 2007.
  • Rotavirus vaccination has reduced the amount of severe disease in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children substantially.
  • Strict upper age limits for giving the rotavirus vaccine mean that it is very important to vaccinate on time.

Links and resources

Rotavirus fact sheet – NSW Health 

Home

Kids Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, 
Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, 
Westmead Locked Bag 4001, 
Westmead NSW 2145  
ABN 53 188 579 090

SCHN-NCIRS@health.nsw.gov.au

We acknowledge that the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is on the land of traditional owners who are part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, and recognise their culture, history, diversity and their deep connection to the land. Together, through research and partnership, we aim to move to a place of equity for all. NCIRS acknowledges and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations from which our research, staff and community are drawn.

Copyright © 2023 NCIRS. All rights reserved

Footer

  • Disclaimer
  • Copyright
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility