Northern California is enduring a 'late-spring surge' of rotavirus

Rotavirus activity is high or increasing in several California cities based on wastewater monitoring. Traces are reported in San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Gilroy, Marina, Ontario, and Los Angeles County. Health experts say a major summer surge is unlikely because rotavirus typically peaks later than winter viruses such as RSV and influenza. Some areas show signs of decline, including San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Fremont, Redwood City, Gilroy, parts of San Francisco, and Novato. Northern California is experiencing a late-spring surge, with active transmission indicated in communities such as Monterey. Prevention relies on thorough handwashing with soap and water, since hand sanitizer is less effective. Transmission occurs through fecal-oral spread, especially in settings like daycares and during diaper changing.

"According to WastewaterSCAN, which monitors multiple different viruses in municipal wastewater, traces of rotavirus are either high or spiking in San Francisco, Fremont, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Gilroy, Marina, Ontario and Los Angeles County. However, Dr. Matthew Willis, a former health officer for Marin County, said that it's unlikely that the illness will surge into summer based on historic seasonal trends."

""I'm not overly concerned at this stage that we're going to have a rough summer," Willis told SFGATE on Tuesday, adding that rotavirus typically peaks later than winter viruses like RSV and the flu. Currently, the wave appears to be subsiding in San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Fremont, Redwood City, Gilroy, the southeastern section of San Francisco and Novato."

"Overall, though, he said that Northern California is experiencing a common "late-spring surge." In areas like Monterey, it appears as though the community is experiencing an outbreak, though he noted it will likely resolve on its own. WastewaterSCAN data is currently "signifying active transmission in that community," he explained."

"Willis said that rotavirus is a disease that's mostly acquired in specific settings such as daycares where there is lots of close contact and diaper-changing. The disease can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, in which stool from infected people can contaminate surfaces or food that people are unintentionally exposed to. According to UC San Francisco, about 50,000 children are hospitalized with t"

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