NICD urges vaccination after rotavirus death reported
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has issued a health warning following a rise in rotavirus cases and a reported death in South Africa. Parents are urged to vaccinate children and monitor for signs of severe dehydration.
Why it matters
Rotavirus is a common but potentially fatal childhood illness; public health alerts are critical for preventing outbreaks and managing hospital capacity.
The 2026 rotavirus season is under way across South Africa, with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reporting a sharp increase in cases in Pretoria and one death.
The NICD is urging parents to vaccinate their children against rotavirus and to be on alert for signs of dehydration, particularly among infants and young children with diarrhoea.
Most children will have at least one rotavirus infection by the age of two.
It is a common childhood diarrhoeal infection that has a seasonal pattern, peaking during the cooler, drier months of the year.
The virus spreads through the faecal-oral route.
“Clinical symptoms include the sudden onset of vomiting followed by non-bloody watery diarrhoea, which may result in severe life-threatening dehydration. Fever may occur in about 30% to 50% of patients,” said principal medical scientist Prof Nicola Page.
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