Hand, foot, mouth disease cases reported at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University's Homeward Campus officials said 129 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been reported to the Health and Wellness Center since early September, a university spokesman told 11 News.
The university said it appears the outbreak might be slowing, saying there have been four new cases since late last week.
The illness is contagious and caused by a virus that can result in fever, sore throat, sores in the mouth and rashes on the hands and feet.
The disease is normally found primarily in children, but given the close quarters college students are in, doctors said they can see how it could spread quickly.
"Many of the students live in residence halls, so they're in close proximity and touch the same kinds of surfaces and so forth, and obviously many times during class together -- we're doing extracurricular together, so they're in close proximity," said Dennis O'Shea, of JHU's Office of Communications.
"Predominately, children get hand, foot and mouth disease. In the past few years, there have been certain strains of hand, foot and mouth that also have been affecting adults," said Dr. Neil Roy, chairman of Sinai's Emergency Room Department.
Crews have been doing extra cleaning in affected areas, including residence hall areas where affected students live, the university said. The university is also distributing disinfectant wipes at the health center to any student with symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease so they can wipe down areas they may have touched.
Health professionals say the disease is spread through droplet transmission, which occurs when bacteria or viruses travel on relatively large respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, drip or exhale.
"Surfaces can transmit it -- sharing drinks can do that, as well. That's why when there are places people live close together, you tend to see more clustered outbreaks," Roy said.
Officials said it comes with nasty symptoms.
"You'll have lesions on the palms of your hands, your lips and your feet. They can be a little bit worse in adults in that they'll have a fever or rash over their torso and in their abdomen, as well," Roy said.
Roy said it can lead to more serious illnesses. The virus can come with more symptoms.
"Do you have other symptoms like a terrible headache, can't look at light, neck is stiff? Come right to the Emergency Department," Roy said.
Health officials say the virus usually takes between seven and 10 days to cure.
The university has been alerting students through several means, including fliers with more information about the disease and how to prevent it.