What is Rotavirus?

This is a highly contagious intestinal (gut) virus that causes gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea) in infants and young children. The virus affects 90 per cent of Kiwi children by three years of age (mostly between 6 and 24 months old), and almost all children worldwide before the age of 5, unless immunised by this oral (not injection) inoculation. Rotavirus is regarded globally as the most common cause of dehydration and diarrhoea in children, but death in New Zealand is rare.