Hand, foot and mouth disease is commonly seen in babies and toddlers, but more than a dozen college students at the Florida State University (FSU) have recently been struck with this viral infection.
Florida State University Health Services director Lesley Sacher said that less than 16 cases had been seen on-site but she knows of more students who were either seen by a healthcare provider elsewhere or who called without coming in.
Sacher said that the outbreak started as "a trickle" on Monday, Sept. 12, but no new cases were reported on Wednesday.
The disease, which is characterized by painful mouth sores, fever and skin rash on hands and feet often affects children below 5 years old.
Infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja, from the Center for Health Security at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, however, said that it is not surprising to see cases of the illness on a college campus because it can also affect adults. Adalja said that some people who have evaded infection as a child may get it at a later age.
A number of viruses belonging to the group known as enteroviruses can cause the disease, so it is also possible that some who have already been infected when they were a child only have immunity to one type of virus but not to another type, which could still make them susceptible to a second infection.
The close-quarters of college dorms likewise provide a perfect breeding ground for an outbreak so these places are likely to have more cases of contagious diseases.
FSU workers already sanitized the dorms of the affected students and students who live in school housing including sorority and fraternity houses were asked to sanitize their surroundings and install bottles of hand sanitizer in response to the outbreak.
"Students should take the necessary precautions to sanitize their living and communal spaces including bathrooms," said Tom Jacobson, director of Environmental Health and Safety.
Social events at the campus were also canceled to reduce exposure to the disease.
The university already informed the county health department and will reach out to local bars and restaurants so they could sanitize their establishments as well.
The disease can be transmitted via direct contact with unwashed hands, sneezing and coughing as well as contact with surfaces contaminated with feces and blister fluids. While there is no specific treatment for the illness, those who contract the infection often get better in a few days.
