Valley News – Dartmouth disease outbreak

Hanover – Dartmouth College is facing a rare outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a viral disease characterized by fever, sore throat and blister-like sores, as well as rashes on the hands, mouth and feet.

According to Mark Reed, Dartmouth's Director of Health Services, more than 50 students have had symptoms of the hand, foot and mouth in recent weeks. Many were treated at the 10-bed college infirmary – some remaining all night – which prompted the school to send a letter to the entire campus to alert students of the epidemic and recommend treatment. .

According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Resources, the following symptoms occur in the hands, feet and mouth, which may also include loss of appetite and general malaise, in infants and children aged 5 and under. Services.

But if a new viral strain surfaces, it is more likely to affect adults.

"Even if you have been exposed, a different strain can cause symptoms," said Antonia Altomare, an epidemiologist at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. "It may be what we see in Dartmouth."

Some students have received painkillers, mouthwashes or over-the-counter sprays to relieve their mouth pain, Reed said. Others have "isolated themselves" by spending the night in the infirmary or in their dormitories. Although cough is not usually a symptom of hand-foot-mouth-mouth disease, some students with unbound cough wear masks in case they also carry the hand, foot and mouth, said Reed.

Meanwhile, employees at the Dartmouth facilities have redoubled their efforts to disinfect items such as public computers, tables and doorknobs that may contain the virus. The disease of the hands, feet and mouth can be transmitted through the secretions of the nose and throat and can be transmitted even to infected persons with no symptoms.

"Every time you meet a group of people close to each other, the broadcast will be easier," said Reed. "It can spread quite quickly in places like business centers, colleges and nurseries."

The hand, foot and mouth are not a "notifiable" disease, which means it is not considered a major risk to public health and therefore not monitored by health agencies national or national. The state's Department of Health and Social Services has informed Dartmouth that recent cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported in the region, according to last week's letter to students.

Altomare, an epidemiologist at DHMC, and a spokesperson for Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, said they did not see a significant increase in patient visits to treat these symptoms. Altomare explained that it could be difficult to pin down.

"We can not really say with confidence how many cases we had because there is no definitive test to diagnose it and it is not a reportable disease," she said. "In general, I do not think we had a huge increase."

Kate Seamans, director of communications at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, said her campus had not experienced an epidemic.

According to a disease document produced by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, it is essential to wash your hands carefully and avoid sharing glasses and utensils.

Jared Pendak can be reached at [email protected] or 603-727-3225.