Our Apologies

We must apologize to all family and friends in Canada infected with what our children had - apparently that germ loves people! Good old hand, foot and mouth spread itself all over Vanderhoof after our departure. So far three families that we know of have been infected. Glad we were able to leave our mark and a lasting memory, at least for 10 days :) Enjoy - we'll see what we can come up with for our next visit - mad cow, swine or avian flu. Hmm, while I decide I thought you might want to know what you may be in for if you have been in contact with us during the first week of September. Again, our apologies, we had no idea when we left that we were cross border contaminating. In fact there are 7 states and two provinces we need to apologize to!

Description:

• Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness of infants and children. The disease causes fever and blister-like eruptions in the mouth and/or a skin rash.
• HFMD is often confused with foot-and-mouth (also called hoof-and-mouth) disease, a disease of cattle, sheep, and swine; however, the two diseases are not related—they are caused by different viruses. Humans do not get the animal disease, and animals do not get the human disease.
  

Illness :

• The disease usually begins with a fever, poor appetite, malaise (feeling vaguely unwell), and often with a sore throat.
• One or 2 days after fever onset, painful sores usually develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. The sores are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks.
• A non-itchy skin rash develops over 1–2 days. The rash has flat or raised red spots, sometimes with blisters. The rash is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; it may also appear on the buttocks and/or genitalia.
  A person with HFMD may have only the rash or only the mouth sores.
  

How It Is Spread:

• Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus. Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons.
• The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.
• Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness.
• The viruses that cause HFMD can remain in the body for weeks after a patient's symptoms have gone away. This means that the infected person can still pass the infection to other people even though he/she appears well. Also, some persons who are infected and excreting the virus, including most adults, may have no symptoms.