Hand, foot and mouth disease hits Jacksonville day cares

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Parents said their day cares are battling a rash of new hand, foot, and mouth disease cases that could expose kids to sores that could cover their body.

According to the Duval County Health Department, nine small clusters of the virus have been reported during 2016.

Action News Jax producer Nekisha Williams said she received notification about the hand, foot, and mouth virus from her son’s daycare earlier this month and wasn’t worried until he started complaining about symptoms.

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“When I went to pick him up he had blisters all around his mouth,” Williams said.

She told Action News Jax her son Mylan’s symptoms started just 24 hours after his day care, the Chappell Child Care Center, sent out a note informing parents of an outbreak.

“The next day the blisters were everywhere, all around his mouth, on his hands and all on the bottom of his feet,” she said.

Action News Jax left a message with the day care asking about the outbreak, but did not receive a response. Attempts at contacting other day cares where the virus has been reported also went unanswered.

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Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Mobeen Rathore said the enterovirus can quickly spread causing fever, loss of appetite and painful sores.

There is no vaccine or treatment for the virus so the Florida Department of Health recommends  washing hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces, not sharing utensils and avoiding contact.

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