First Kamloops, now Vernon dealing with hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source - iNFOnews
The hand, foot, and mouth virus that was making its way through Kamloops a week ago is also infecting kids and adults in Vernon.
One Vernon daycare said 90 per cent of its children had contracted either hand, foot, and mouth or the impetigo virus.
Hand, foot, and mouth is a common virus, that typically affects children and can cause painful spots and blisters on the mouth, in the throat, and on hands and feet.
Just over a week ago, the hand, foot, and mouth virus appeared in Kamloops with one mom telling iNFOnews.ca that she knew plenty of parents whose children had the virus.
READ MORE: Hand, foot and mouth disease spreading around Kamloops
Hand, foot, and mouth is not a reportable virus to Interior Health and is considered mild.
However, it is highly contagious and in severe cases can cause painful symptoms including blistering on the hands, mouth, throat and feet.
Health Canada says there is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth, although some medications can help relieve the pain of mouth sores.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is most common in the summer and early fall.
The virus usually starts with a fever and causes blisters on the mouth, tongue, and gums. Blisters may also appear on the palms of hands and the soles of children's feet.
An infected person is contagious for seven to 10 days and the virus is spread through saliva, through air droplets spread by sneezing and coughing, and through touching objects contaminated with the infected air droplets.
Impetigo is a common skin infection that's sometimes called scalded skin syndrome.
Symptoms of impetigo are clusters of red bumps or blisters surrounded by areas of redness. Sores may also appear around the mouth and nose, and skin not covered by clothes.
Impetigo can be treated with antibiotics and 24 hours after treatment has started, a child will no longer be contagious.
As with many viruses, regular hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of hand, foot, and mouth and impetigo.
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