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Several FSU Students Diagnosed with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
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TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Several FSU students have contracted a viral infection more commonly seen in daycare centers known as hand, foot and mouth disease, announced university health officials.

"We are aware of more than a dozen cases so far," Lesley Sacher, director of the FSU Health and Wellness Center, said Wednesday. "This illness usually lasts for a few days, and there is no medicine to treat it," Sacher said. "Blisters may form on hands, feet or in the mouth with mild fever or sore throat causing the patient to feel uncomfortable for about five days."

More information is available on the University Health Services website at: www.uhs.fsu.edu.

The university is asking that all community living facilities (University Housing, fraternity and sorority houses, scholarship houses, etc.) to sanitize their residences thoroughly and install bottles of hand sanitizer in each residence where they may not already have them.

FSU says it will continue its sanitation protocols for all public spaces on campus.

FSU officials say they are working to educate the university community and prevent further transmission. Officials said they will encourage community partners such as local restaurants and bars to sanitize their premises.

"The most important piece of advice," Sacher said, "is to wash your hands often with soap and water."