Health Protection Agency (HPA) has called all people to take the necessary precautions to stop the spread of Hand, foot and mouth disease.
In a health alert issued by the agency yesterday, they stated that several cases have been reported in the islands and Male’.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease — a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children — is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus.
HPA advised parents to keep their sick kids at home if any of their children is confirmed to have caught the disease.
Symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, sores in the mouth, loss of appetite and a painless rash or blisters on the palms of hands, soles of feet or, occasionally, the buttocks, according to HPA. Not everyone will get all of the symptoms.
The illness is contagious and can be passed to others through contact with the infected person’s saliva, mucus or feces.
Children are most contagious during the first week of the illness, but that the virus remains in feces and can sometimes spread for several weeks after the blisters and sores have healed. Medical authorities say blisters will heal better if they are left alone, and should not be popped.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease spreading
