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Does North Jersey Face Outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

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September 17,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Fox news reports The Pequannock Panthers started their season a week later than expected after a nasty outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) commonly known as coxsackie virus that has been spreading across northern New Jersey.

The Coxsackie virus or HFMD, caused by coxsackie viruses, usually causes fever, malaise, rash, and small blisters that ulcerate. The most frequent locations for the blisters/ulcers are on the palms of the hand, soles of the feet, and in the mouth. Coxsackie virus was first isolated from human feces in the town of Coxsackie, N.Y., in 1948 by G. Dalldorf.

Prevention is difficult; avoid direct contact with anyone with HFMD, and their stool, saliva, and blister fluid. Hand washing and cleaning of items handled by HFMD patients are the best additional methods for prevention.

The virus prompted the cancelation of games and after-school events at a number of high schools including Pequannock, High Point West Milford and Kinnelon, which just reported 8 cases.

Possible cases of the virus have been reported at a half-dozen high schools in New Jersey. But the state’s Health Department says that is not worth panicking over because outbreaks this time of year are common. In fact last year, there were six and the year before that 23.

HFMD usually occurs in children but can occur in adults. HFMD usually resolves in about 10 days with no scarring, but the person may shed coxsackie virus for several weeks. Lab tests for coxsackie viruses can be done, the vast majority of infections are diagnosed by clinical features (HFMD blisters/ulcers), but this may change with the onset of new outbreaks and causes of severe HFMD. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for coxsackie virus infections.

3 thoughts on “Does North Jersey Face Outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

  1. Cocksackie is under scrutiny as potentially being a precursor illness placing at least some children at risk of later developing Type 1 Diabetes. According to the pattern some researchers claim to be observing and are actively studying, 3-6 months after the Cocksackie symptoms subside, the unfortunate child ends up in the Emergency Room suffering from a basketful of symptoms consistent with prolonged exposure to high levels of glucose (sugars) in their bloodstream. The thought is that, from the perspective of the antibody the child’s body produced to fight and eventually overcome the Cocksackie virus, the outside surface and structure of the insulin-producing cells of the human pancreas look identical to corresponding external features of that virus. The body then undergoes an autoimmune response in which the Cocksackie virus antibodies turn on and begin to attack the pancreas, eventually degrading and destroying its capacity to produce insulin.

  2. We have a case of FOOT IN MOUTH disease, as in when someone says something completely moronic. Currently on Facebook Rurik Halaby is making a gigantic fool of himself on It Takes a Ridgewood Village. Rurik do you want some salt and pepper with that shoe you are eating?

  3. It is good to see that Rurik’s Facebook posts are challenged. Many people don’t like to get in arguments on Facebook but we have a dedicated group of residents who challenge him with the facts. He just posts misinformation and lies. Any idiot can do that.

    It amazes me that a business owner in town can show up at a council meeting and blame them for the PSEG work schedule. Why doesn’t he complain to PSEG?

    Why doesn’t he embrace the Ridgewood Fall Craft Fair? It is great to have Ridgewood Ave closed for a pedestrian fair.

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