Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease on FSU Campus
Attention all FSU students, faculty, and staff: There is an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease on campus. Reportedly, more than a dozen have been affected by this viral infection as of Wednesday, September 14, 2016.
For those of you who don’t have younger siblings or who have never heard of the virus, Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is most commonly experienced among preschoolers. Director of the University Health Center, Lesley Sacher, says “The illness usually lasts for a few days, and there is no medicine to treat it,”.
Because there is no treatment available, it’s crucial to prevent the spread of the disease. FSU is taking preventive measures by sanitizing the residence halls and other public spaces. IFC Rush events were even cancelled on Tuesday evening to prevent the disease from spreading by hand-to-hand contact. The disease is highly contagious, therefore washing your hands frequently and avoiding contact with people who have the disease is of the utmost importance.
About the Virus
The symptoms start as a general sick feeling- sore throat and a cough. However, the symptoms don’t stop there. The patient will also experience lesions on their hands, feet, or inside of the mouth. Hence the name.
How can I stay in the clear?
The most important preventive measure is, obviously, to wash your hands with warm soap and water- and not just your usual three-second “rinse” but actual washing needs to occur. Scrub under your nails, too. Sing the ABCs while you do it.
Try not to touch your face or mouth, especially when you’re in a public place. Avoid touching door handles when entering or leaving a bathroom, classroom, or dorm.
Invest in a bottle of hand sanitizer to keep in your backpack, purse, or even pocket.
I caught the virus…now what?
It isn’t the end of the world, so don’t panic. However, since this is a virus, antibiotics are not an option. Just like the common cold, you must let it run its course.
The best advice is to rest, email your professors and call your employers to let them know you will need to stay away for at least 3-5 days, or until your symptoms have resided.
We all know that 3 or 5 days can be all it takes to get extremely behind on your classes, so make sure that you’re following those preventive measures. I know I will be.
For more information on Hand, Foot and Mouth disease, visit http://www.uhs.fsu.edu.
Stay sanitized, homies.