Cases of foot-and-mouth disease continue to rise among children in Manitoba and across the country, but an infectious disease specialist says it’s no wonder the virus spreads after two years of pandemic restrictions.
“Over the past two years, we’ve probably forgotten about the usual, common, circulating viral enemies we see in children, one of which is hand disease, fever, and mouth disease,” Dr. Justin Penner told Global News.
“We certainly could have predicted this: it’s not uncommon after two years of a pandemic, when people don’t get mixed up or aren’t in school or daycare.”
Penner said the disease usually causes nonspecific symptoms (fever, cough, some belly symptoms), as well as fluid-filled blisters of the same name on the hands and feet and inside the mouth.
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“Most cases of foot-and-mouth disease are self-limiting: make sure (children) stay well hydrated, make sure they are in control of their symptoms with their temperature, make sure they eat and are comfortable … and most of these cases will go away on their own.
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“What we really need to pay attention to are kids who are dehydrated or who don’t really drink at all.”
A Shared Health spokesman confirmed to Global News that the two-year latency period related to the pandemic is the cause of the recent rise, which has resulted in 20 cases being treated during the first five days of July.
Throughout the past year, there were a total of 18 cases treated at the hospital, and only 25 throughout 2020.
“The end of most pandemic-related public health measures has allowed the recurrence of this disease,” the spokesman said.
“Children, who are more susceptible to viruses than adults, are generally more socially active than during the previous two years, which makes their risk of exposure higher. Changes in virus strains may explain a steady increase in the number of foot-and-mouth disease and hand fever observed around the world before the pandemic and now reappearing. “
Most people recover from foot-and-mouth disease within a week to 10 days, and many of the strategies used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can also be used in this case, such as hand washing, distancing. physical and surface disinfection.
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