Hand, Foot Mouth Disease Spreads Across Multiple US School Districts, Virginia Reports Rising Cases

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a highly contagious viral illness primarily affecting children, is currently spreading across several regions in the United States, including Arkansas, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee. Symptoms include fever, rash on hands, feet, and inside the mouth, which can cause severe pain and dehydration, particularly in young children. There is no vaccine or specific cure for HFMD; prevention relies on rigorous hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and disinfecting common surfaces. Local health officials and school districts are responding by increasing cleaning efforts and encouraging parents to keep sick children home to prevent further spread. Despite the illness usually being mild and resolving within 7 to 10 days, severe cases have been reported, prompting concern and active measures in schools and childcare settings. Meanwhile, a separate but similarly named outbreak of foot and mouth disease is affecting cattle in Kenya, where a vaccination campaign is underway to protect livestock and secure farmers' livelihoods.