Nevis’ District Medical Officer, Dr. Tivon Browne, has provided some advice about the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

HFMD is a contagious viral infection that mostly affects young children but can also spread to adults, which causes fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet. It is usually mild but is spread easily through close contact, coughs, sneezes, and contaminated surfaces.

St. Kitts & Nevis experienced an outbreak of the disease, resulting in classes and in some instances, the temporary closure of schools. Though health officials have not officially stated that the outbreak is over, Dr. Browne explained how contagious HFMD is:

Dr. Tivon Browne.

To prevent the spread of HFMD: “routine cleaning and sanitization are crucial, and the use of bleach-based cleaning products is strongly recommended for disinfecting surfaces and shared items such as toys and furniture”, the Ministry of Health-St. Kitts said.