Dear Woodland Hills Families,
This letter is to inform you that multiple cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) has been confirmed in several classrooms in our elementary schools.
We are sharing this information so you can observe your child for symptoms and take appropriate preventative measures. We are actively following all recommendations from the Allegheny County Health Department concerning guidelines for cleaning and exclusion.
What is HFMD?
HFMD is a common, generally mild, and highly contagious viral infection that typically affects infants and children under the age of five, though adults and older children can contract it. It is not related to the foot-and-mouth disease of animals.
Common Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure and can include:
- Fever and a general feeling of being unwell (malaise).
- Sore throat and loss of appetite.
- Painful red blisters that form in the mouth and throat, which can make swallowing difficult.
- A non-itchy rash of flat or raised red spots, most commonly found on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the buttocks.
How It Spreads
HFMD is spread through direct contact with an infected person, nose and throat discharge (mucus and saliva), fluid from blisters, stool, and contaminated surfaces and objects.
School and Home Protocol
If you suspect your child has HFMD, please take the following steps:
- Consult a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
- Notify the school if your child is diagnosed with HFMD.
- Keep your child home from school:
a. Until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
b. Until the sores have healed.
c. Until they are well enough to participate in normal daily activities.
What You Can Do at Home to Help Prevent the Spread
- Monitor: Watch your child closely for any of the symptoms listed above.
- Hand Washing: Teach and enforce frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid Sharing: Discourage your child from sharing cups, towels, utensils, or personal items.
- Consult a Doctor: If you suspect your child has HFMD, please contact your healthcare provider for guidance and notify the school nurse.
We have taken immediate steps to limit the spread of the virus by increasing the frequency and rigor of cleaning, disinfecting high-touch surfaces in not only the affected classrooms but throughout the school, ensuring students and staff wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the restroom and before eating, and monitoring all students for new symptoms.
Your cooperation in following the exclusion policy is essential in keeping our school community healthy. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school nurse or consult your family physician. For additional information, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease.
Yours in Education,
Dr. Pamela R. White
