Rotavirus can spread very easily and there is no known cause

Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) is the primary reason infants and young children experience severe bouts of diarrhea, experts explain.

Highly contagious, the virus can be very easily passed from person to person. Also, many sanitizers and soaps are unable to effectively kill the virus, creating a very high chance of spreading if the virus is contracted.

Most children who obtain the virus notice symptoms extremely fast. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.

Children under five years old are at the highest risk for the virus, and at least 500,000 children die each year from rotavirus.

In addition to the health costs of children with the virus, parents are often unable or apprehensive to return to work because of the health condition.

On average, family members of children with the virus miss at least four work days.

Searching for a cause of the virus, a study may have linked the virus to deprivation.

Unfortunately, due to the drastic differences in virus contraction, it is difficult to pinpoint any true link other than direct contact as a method for infection.

The World Health Organization suggests vaccination to all healthy infants as a method for prevention.