Highly Contagious Stomach Virus Surging In MD As Vaccination Rates Decline
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 21, 2026 - A highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea in young children is circulating at elevated levels nationwide, including in Maryland, health officials warn.
Infants and toddlers are at the highest risk of developing rotavirus, which can result in dangerous dehydration, sometimes requiring hospitalization. Symptoms can include frequent vomiting, watery diarrhea and fever, and may last several days or a week.
Rates of rotavirus have been steadily increasing since January, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In the CDC’s Northeast region, which includes Maryland, the percentage of positive tests spiked to 9.6 percent for the week of April 11, up from 3.23 percent the week before.
Data from the Wastewater Scan, a cooperative effort between Stanford University and Emory University, show that rotavirus rates are increasing the most in the Midwest and the West.