Alabama: Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville

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Source: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/01/post_787.html

Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville
Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 11:50 AM
Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times By Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times The Huntsville Times

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Madison County health officials as well as the Alabama Department of Public Health are monitoring a more severe outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease than usual...

..."The difference this year is we are seeing higher temps -- 103, 104," Williams said. "We're having to have kids hospitalized that have never been hospitalized before and the rash seems to be more extensive. We're also seeing more adults with it than we have before..."

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Re: Alabama: Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville

Source: http://blog.al.com/times-views/2012/...ase_cause.html

...So far, the CDC has identified a strain new to our region, coxsackievirus A6, as a culprit.

One of the most important aspects of this new virus is that adults and older children are getting it. Whereas A16 affects males and females most commonly below the age of 10 years, A6 is extremely contagious and can be transferred to susceptible persons of any age by means of direct contact with nasal discharge, saliva, open skin sores or stool. So, as the age-old saying goes, always wash your hands...

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Re: Alabama: Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville

Source: http://www.wsfa.com/story/16918683/a...-mouth-disease

ADPH monitors cases of hand, foot and mouth disease
Posted: Feb 12, 2012 8:47 PM EST Updated: Feb 12, 2012 8:47 PM EST
By Rosanna Smith - email

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The Alabama Department of Public Health is asking the public to be aware that more cases of the contagious viral illness called hand, foot and mouth disease is being reported this winter.

As of February 10, the ADPH interviewed patients, collected and submitted specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for individuals with febrile illnesses and rash.Results show, Coxsackie A6, a specific type of virus that has not previously been associated with an outbreak in the U.S. has been identified.

"As this is a new virus for our population, we can expect more cases and are monitoring for any change in the clinical presentation," Dr. Donald Williamson, state health officer, said. "We will continue statewide surveillance on severe cases of this emerging disease and ask physicians and infection control specialists to make notifications to us..."

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Re: Alabama: Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville

Source: http://www.cbs42.com/content/localne...lAoSmjXSg.cspx

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Spreading in Ala.
Reported by: Kaitlin McCulley
Email: kmcculley@cbs42.com
Published: 5:01 pm
Updated: 6:16 pm

IRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Your child's sore throat could be more serious than you think. A new strain of hand, foot and mouth disease is spreading in Alabama, and it's highly contagious.

No one has died from the disease this year in Alabama, but several patients have been hospitalized with severe cases. The Alabama Department of Public Health has issued a warning that the viral illness is spreading...

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Re: Alabama: Health officials monitor outbreak of hand, foot & mouth disease in Huntsville

Source: http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2012/feb/1...ma-ar-3238278/
(Click above for video report)

HealthWatch: 14 cases of new strain of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Alabama

OPELIKA, Ala. --

The Alabama Department of Public Health says the first case popped up in the northern part of the state. The severity of the symptoms got the attention of health officials.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease normally sticks around for two to three days but not this strain, identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the Coxsackie A6 virus. It?s responsible for severe breakouts on the hands and feet.

?To the point that it actually peels where they?ve had problems with the severity from that in itself and being unable to you know actually walk for a few days or one particular person was actually unable to walk for almost two weeks because of the skin and the peeling that occurred from the rash itself,? says Dr. Mary McIntyre, Acting State Epidemiologist with Disease Control and Prevention at the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Based on the specimens collected, 14 cases have been confirmed by the CDC in the north, south and central parts of the state...