GBAPSD
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is spreading throughout the Green Bay Area Public School District.
A message sent to GBAPS families and staff that says HFMD infections “have been making the rounds in Brown County and are finding their way into our classrooms.”
The district also provided a flyer from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that details important information about HFMD.
HFMD is most common in infants and young children, but anyone can contract it. While the illness is usually not serious, it is very contagious and often spreads quickly in schools and day care centers.
You can get HFMD by:
- Having contact with respiratory droplets from a sick person’s coughs or sneezes
- Touching a sick person (such as kissing, hugging or sharing cups or eating utensils)
- Touching feces from a sick person (for example, when changing diapers)
- Touching objects and surfaces that have the virus on them (such as toys, doorknobs, tabletops)
Most people with HFMD experience flu-like symptoms, a fever, mouth sores and a skin rash. The sores are usually painful and often start as small red spots on the tongue and inside of the mouth. The rash usually occurs on the hands and feet, but can also appear on the buttocks, legs and arms. The rash looks like flat or slightly raised red spots that can also turn into blisters. The fluid inside blisters can contain the virus that causes HFMD.
The Wisconsin DHS says children with HFMD may continue to go to school if they are fever-free, have no uncontrolled drooling with mouth sores and feel well enough to attend. But in some cases, children may need to stay home to control an outbreak of HFMD.
To prevent the spread of HFMD, consider the following tips:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items, including toys and doorknobs
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with sick people, such as hugging or kissing them
Comments