“While most cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease are mild, the virus spreads easily in group environments like schools and daycares,” said Dr. Bruce Randolph
NEED TO KNOW
- The Shelby County Health Department in Tennessee announced that at least 178 students and staff across 31 schools and three daycare centers have been affected by hand, foot and mouth disease
- The SCHD said that the first cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were “identified at the end of August” and they were notified in early September
- Hand, foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious illness that “causes fever, mouth sores, and skin rash,” per the CDC
An ongoing outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has affected nearly 200 children and staff across several Tennessee schools, according to health officials.
The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) in Tennessee announced in an update on Monday Oct. 20 that at least 178 students and staff across 31 schools and three daycare centers have been affected by the disease.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious illness that usually “causes fever, mouth sores, and skin rash,” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While the disease is commonly found in children under 5-years-old, anyone can get it, and symptoms usually last from seven to 10 days, per the agency.
According to the CDC, since hand, foot, mouth disease is caused by a virus, it can easily spread through contact with droplets from an infected person who sneezes, coughs or talks, objects and surfaces that have virus particles and fluid from blisters…