Student Health Services diagnosed “a cluster” of students with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease on Sept. 4, according to Director Susan Snyder. Snyder could not confirm how many students Health Services diagnosed.
The viral illness includes ulcers, or sores, inside or around the mouth, with a rash or blisters appearing on the hands, feet, legs or buttocks, according to Web MD.
She said the number of students diagnosed was “not abnormal” in comparison to previous years, but that students were diagnosed with the viral illness as a “cluster” in the span of a day. She said the “cluster” was uncommon, although the illness itself is “fairly common” in Western New York.
Snyder recommends students disinfect surfaces with wipes, avoid sharing utensils and wash their hands with soap and water to avoid catching the illness.
Brenton J. Blanchet is the managing editor and can be reached at Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com.
Brenton J. Blanchet is the 2019-20 editor-in-chief of The Spectrum. His work has appeared in Billboard, Clash Magazine, DJBooth, PopCrush, The Face and more. Ask him about Mariah Carey.
