Rotavirus
Health alert
Status: Active
Last updated: 31 July 2025
Issued by: Chief Health Officer
Issued to: Health professionals
Rotavirus infection is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children globally. It often occurs in epidemics, affecting mainly children under 2 years of age although older age groups can also be affected.
Current situation
Notifications of rotavirus have increased in the NT across the month of July, with many presentations to hospital requiring supportive management in the last fortnight. Recent cases have been focussed around the Darwin and Katherine regions. Anyone with vomiting and diarrhoea should drink extra fluids to avoid dehydration, and children (especially under 2 years old) should be assessed for early warning signs of severe dehydration and treated promptly.
Alerts to health professionals
- Health Alert - Rotavirus PDF (507.4 KB) (31 July 2025)
Notifiable disease
Rotavirus is a notifiable disease.
Vaccine
Read about immunisations on the Northern Territory Government website.
Information for health professionals
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Rotavirus fact sheet | NT Health |
Information for the public
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Webpage | Rotavirus | Northern Territory Government |
| Webpage | Rotavirus | Health direct |
| Webpage | Rotavirus | Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia |
Exclusion periods for schools and daycares
There is a minimum period of exclusion from school, pre-school or childcare for children or educators with this infectious disease.
Get a copy of the time out minimum periods of exclusion.
Contact
Contact the Northern Territory’s Centre for Disease Control.
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