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Rotavirus for health professionals

Rotavirus is an acute viral gastroenteritis. It is a nationally notifiable disease. We monitor and report on national case numbers and epidemiological trends. We publish case definitions to support health professionals and health authorities.

For health professionals For everyone

Disease

  • Rotavirus is a non-enveloped ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus in the Reoviridae family.

  • The clinical presentation of rotavirus infection ranges from asymptomatic to causing life-threatening gastroenteritis.

    Symptoms, when present, include:

    Symptoms are usually more severe in unvaccinated children and in people who are immunocompromised.

    Serious complications include:

    • dehydration, requiring hospitalisation
    • seizures (in 2% to 3% of children with rotavirus gastroenteritis).[1]

    Read more about the diagnosis and treatment of rotavirus.

Public health importance

  • Before rotavirus vaccination became part of the National Immunisation Program schedule in 2007, it was a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children in Australia. 

    Rotavirus remains a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis among young children globally, causing significant disease and death, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

    Outbreaks of rotavirus infection still occur domestically and can have a substantial impact on the healthcare system and families.

    Because of this we monitor and report on the number of cases in Australia.

  • Rotavirus infection is most commonly diagnosed in children aged under 5 years.

    In 2024, there were more than 10,000 cases diagnosed in Australia – the highest number since it became nationally notifiable in 2018.

    Since the rotavirus vaccine became part of the National Immunisation Program in 2007, in children aged under 5 years, there has been a reduction of:

    • 85% in acute gastroenteritis hospitalisations where rotavirus is detected
    • 46% in all-cause hospital presentations for gastroenteritis.[2]

    Rotavirus hospitalisations have also decreased in older age groups, suggesting rotavirus vaccines may provide some population-level protection (herd immunity).

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have higher rates of hospitalisation due to rotavirus than non-Indigenous children.[2]

    For the latest information on rotavirus incidence, severity, transmission and virology in Australia see:

Spread of infection

  • Rotavirus is highly contagious and is mainly spread through the faecal–oral route.

    Transmission can happen through contact with:

    • an infectious person
    • vomit or diarrhoea
    • contaminated objects, food and water
    • respiratory droplets from an infectious person.

  • Symptoms usually start between 24 and 72 hours after exposure.

  • People with rotavirus are infectious during the acute stage of illness, for about 10 days. Some people may be infectious for longer, including people who are immunocompromised.

Priority populations

  • Rotavirus poses a greater risk of severe disease for:

    • infants and young children who are not immune through past infection or vaccination, especially if aged under 2 years
    • older adults
    • people who are immunocompromised.

    Read more about measures people can take to protect themselves.

  • Those most at risk of exposure to rotavirus include:

    • children who attend early childhood education and care centres
    • people who care for young children 

    See what measures people can take to protect themselves.

  • Rotavirus can spread quickly in homes and other settings, including:

    • early childhood education and care centres
    • schools
    • hospitals
    • residential care homes
    • food venues.

    Rotavirus is also more common in some remote communities and can spread quickly.

    A rotavirus outbreak in these settings may require a public health response.

    Read more about the prevention, control and public health management of outbreaks.

Prevention

  • Rotavirus vaccination is provided free under the National Immunisation Program, and is recommended for all infants aged under 6 months. 

    Age upper limits apply, so it’s important for infants to be vaccinated on time.

    Rotavirus vaccines prevent severe disease and reduce the risk of rotavirus infection in children. Other people in the population also appear to benefit from herd protection.

    See the Australian Immunisation Handbook for more information, and who is eligible for free rotavirus vaccination under the National Immunisation Program.

  • Frequent hand hygiene prevents the spread of rotavirus, especially:

    • after going to the toilet
    • before preparing, handling or eating food
    • after changing a nappy
    • after caring for anyone with rotavirus.

    It is also important to:

    • not change nappies on surfaces where food is prepared or eaten
    • use hot water and detergent or soap to wash objects, surfaces and clothes exposed to faeces or vomit, then allowing them to fully dry
    • keep children home from childcare centres for at least 24 hours after diarrhoea and vomiting resolves
    • not attend high-risk settings, or return to food-handling and preparation duties, for at least 48 hours after diarrhoea resolves
    • not swim until at least 24 hours after diarrhoea resolves.

    State and territory recommendations and regulations may differ and should be followed.

Diagnosis and clinical management

  • Rotavirus infection is usually diagnosed through laboratory testing. 

    Rotavirus antigen testing requires a faecal sample. 

    Polymerase chain reaction testing may also be used to detect rotavirus RNA in a faecal sample.

  • Read more about laboratory testing and the laboratory case definitions. 

  • There is no specific treatment for rotavirus.

    Clinical management consists of supportive care, including adequate fluid intake.

    Some people may require hospitalisation for the management of symptoms or dehydration.

    Read more about the clinical management of rotavirus.

Notification and reporting

Public health response

  • Public health investigation is not usually undertaken for individual rotavirus cases.

    The recommendations for people with rotavirus infection vary by state and territory.

    There may be specific restrictions for people who attend high-risk settings or who work in occupations where rotavirus can quickly spread. These include:

    • early childhood education and care centres
    • residential aged care homes
    • healthcare facilities
    • food handlers.

  • Contact tracing and management is usually not undertaken for individual rotavirus cases.

  • The public health response to rotavirus generally focuses on high-risk settings.

  • Special situations and high-risk settings might require extra infection prevention and control actions.

    These include:

    State and territory requirements should be followed, where these exist, as they may differ from national guidelines.

Resources

References

  • 1 de Vries LS and Bearden D. ‘Neurologic complications of rotavirus in neonates: More common than we thought?’, Neurology. 2015, 84(1):13–4, doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000001115.
  • 2 Dey A, Jackson J, et al. ‘Australia's rotavirus immunisation program: Impact on acute gastroenteritis and intussusception hospitalisations over 13 years’, Vaccine, 2025, 52:126789. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126789.

We are adding new content to this website and expanding these pages, including a suite of disease-related information. In the meantime, information about diseases in Australia is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website.

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