Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Aug 15, 2025

44 cases of Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease confirmed in 10 VI schools, daycares

44 cases of Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease confirmed in 10 VI schools, daycares

Virgin Islands (VI) National Epidemiologist Ms Harmonie Brewley-Massiah has confirmed 44 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) across 10 preschools and daycare centres in the territory.

While Ms Brewley-Massiah said HFMD is generally mild, it remains a very contagious viral disease that is most common in childcare settings on a seasonal basis, according to a release from Government Information Services (GIS) on August 25, 2022.

She said that it is expected that the case numbers will continue to increase as investigations continue.

“Proper hand washing, disinfection, and sanitisation is needed to minimise the risk of contracting or spreading Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease,” Ms Brewley-Massiah said.

While Ms. Harmony Brewley-Massiah said HFMD is generally mild, it remains a very contagious viral disease that is most common in childcare settings on a seasonal basis.


Educational institutions asked to increase vigilance


“We are also asking that all health-care providers and educational institutions increase their vigilance and to immediately report any suspected cases of the disease to the Ministry of Health at telephone numbers 468-2281 or 468-2285,” she added.

According to the Ministry of Health, HFMD is spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and contact with infected feces through the changing of diapers or touching surfaces or objects which have been contaminated with the virus. Symptoms usually begin with a fever, itching, sore throat, reduced appetite and a general feeling of being unwell. Within two days of the onset of symptoms, a rash consisting of small red spots or blisters may appear on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands or inside the mouth.

The Ministry warned that persons should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and disinfect surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs and should also avoid close contact such as hugging, kissing and sharing eating utensils with persons who are infected with the disease.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agents in Washington Charged with Assault – Identified as Justice Department Employee
A Computer That Listens, Sees, and Acts: What to Expect from Windows 12
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
UK has added India to a list of countries whose nationals, convicted of crimes, will face immediate deportation without the option to appeal from within the UK
Southwest Airlines Apologizes After 'Accidentally Forgetting' Two Blind Passengers at New Orleans Airport and Faces Criticism Over Poor Service for Passengers with Disabilities
Russian Forces Advance on Donetsk Front, Cutting Key Supply Routes Near Pokrovsk
It’s Not the Algorithm: New Study Claims Social Networks Are Fundamentally Broken
Sixty-Year-Old Claims: “My Biological Age Is Twenty-One.” Want the Same? Remember the Name Spermidine
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
U.S. Investigation Reports No Russian Interference in Romanian Election First Round
Oasis Reunion Tour Linked to Temporary Rise in UK Inflation
Musk Alleges Apple Favors OpenAI in App Store Rankings
Denmark Revives EU ‘Chat Control’ Proposal for Encrypted Message Scanning
US Teen Pilot Reaches Deal to Leave Chile After Unauthorized Antarctic Landing
Trump considers lawsuit against Powell over Fed renovation costs
Trump Criticizes Goldman Sachs Over Tariff Cost Forecasts
Perplexity makes unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer for Google’s Chrome browser
Kodak warns of liquidity crisis as debt obligations loom
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Taylor Swift announces 12th studio album on Travis Kelce’s podcast after high-profile year together
South Korean court orders arrest of former First Lady Kim Keon Hee on bribery and corruption allegations
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
JD Vance to meet Tory MP Robert Jenrick and Reform’s Nigel Farage on UK visit
Trump and Putin Meeting: Focus on Listening and Communication
Instagram Released a New Feature – and Sent Users Into a Panic
China Accuses: Nvidia Chips Are U.S. Espionage Tools
Mercedes’ CEO Is Killing Germany’s Auto Legacy
Trump Proposes Land Concessions to End Ukraine War
New Road Safety Measures Proposed in the UK: Focus on Eye Tests and Stricter Drink-Driving Limits
Viktor Orbán Criticizes EU's Financial Support for Ukraine Amid Economic Concerns
South Korea's Military Shrinks by 20% Amid Declining Birthrate
US Postal Service Targets Unregulated Vape Distributors in Crackdown
Duluth International Airport Running on Tech Older Than Your Grandmother's Vinyl Player
RFK Jr. Announces HHS Investigation into Big Pharma Incentives to Doctors
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Security flaws in a carmaker’s web portal let one hacker remotely unlock cars from anywhere
Street justice isn’t pretty but how else do you deal with this kind of insanity? Sometimes someone needs to standup and say something
Armenia and Azerbaijan sign U.S.-brokered accord at White House outlining transit link via southern Armenia
Barcelona Resolves Captaincy Issue with Marc-André ter Stegen
US Justice Department Seeks Release of Epstein and Maxwell Grand Jury Exhibits Amid Legal and Victim Challenges
Trump Urges Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to Resign Over Alleged Chinese Business Ties
Scotland’s First Minister Meets Trump Amid Visit Highlighting Whisky Tariffs, Gaza Crisis and Heritage Links
Trump Administration Increases Reward for Arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro to Fifty Million Dollars
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
OpenAI Launches GPT‑5, Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Embarrassment in Britain: Homelessness Minister Evicted Tenants and Forced to Resign
President Trump nominated Stephen Miran, his top economic adviser and a critic of the Federal Reserve, to temporarily fill an open Fed seat
×