Editing Rotavirus (section)

== Transmission ==
[[File:Multiple rotavirus particles.jpg|thumb|Rotaviruses in the [[faeces]] of an infected child|alt=Many rotavirus particles packed together, which all look similar]]

Rotaviruses are transmitted by the [[fecal–oral route|faecal–oral route]], via contact with contaminated hands, surfaces and objects,<ref name="pmid8393172">{{cite journal
|vauthors=Butz AM, Fosarelli P, Dick J, Cusack T, Yolken R |title=Prevalence of rotavirus on high-risk fomites in day-care facilities
|journal=Pediatrics
|volume=92
|issue=2
|pages=202–205
|year=1993
|doi=10.1542/peds.92.2.202
|pmid=8393172
|s2cid=20327842
}}</ref> and possibly by the respiratory route.<ref name="pmid11052397">{{cite journal
|author=Dennehy PH
|s2cid=28625697
|title=Transmission of rotavirus and other enteric pathogens in the home
|journal=Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|volume=19
|issue=Suppl 10
|pages=S103–105
|year=2000
|pmid=11052397
|doi=10.1097/00006454-200010001-00003
|doi-access=free
}}</ref> Viral diarrhoea is highly contagious. The faeces of an infected person can contain more than 10 trillion infectious particles per gram;<ref name="pmid9015109" /> fewer than 100 of these are required to transmit infection to another person.<ref name="pmid18838873">{{cite journal |vauthors=Grimwood K, Lambert SB |s2cid=31164630 |title=Rotavirus vaccines: opportunities and challenges |journal=Human Vaccines |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=57–69 |year=2009 |pmid=18838873 |doi=10.4161/hv.5.2.6924 |url=http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/hv/abstract.php?id=6924|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Rotaviruses are stable in the environment and have been found in [[estuary]] samples at levels up to 1–5 infectious particles per US{{nbsp}}gallon. The viruses survive between 9 and 19 days.<ref name="pmid6091548">{{cite journal |vauthors=Rao VC, Seidel KM, Goyal SM, Metcalf TG, Melnick JL |title=Isolation of enteroviruses from water, suspended solids, and sediments from Galveston Bay: survival of poliovirus and rotavirus adsorbed to sediments |journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=404–409 |year=1984|doi=10.1128/AEM.48.2.404-409.1984 |pmid=6091548 |url=http://aem.asm.org/cgi/reprint/48/2/404 |format=PDF |pmc=241526 |bibcode=1984ApEnM..48..404R }}</ref> Sanitary measures adequate for eliminating [[bacteria]] and [[parasite]]s seem to be ineffective in control of rotavirus, as the incidence of rotavirus infection in countries with high and low health standards is similar.<ref name="pmid11052397" />