Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak at Florida State

Officials at Florida State University are hoping a campus-wide hand-washing campaign will help stop an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease.

According to school health officials, they’re seeing “significant decreases” in the outbreak. They say a dozen students were treated at on-campus health locations and another seven sought medical help off-campus.

Lesley Sacher, director of FSU Health and Wellness Center, says there could be another uptick in cases given the three-day incubation period.

Leon County health officials say it’s the first time they’ve seen an outbreak of the disease in the college-age group; typically the disease occurs at day care centers.

Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, sore throat, mouth sores and rashes on the hands and feet.

Officials are encouraging students to wash their hands.