Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Cases on Staten Island
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — This summer, a few cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have emerged on Staten Island, prompting medical professionals to urge community awareness.
The disease is quite contagious. Symptoms include fever, painful sores in the mouth, sore throat, and a skin rash, which can be both unpleasant and painful. It tends to spread rapidly in schools and daycare facilities.
Currently, there’s no vaccine available in the U.S. to offer protection against the viruses that cause this illness.
It is most prevalent among infants and children under the age of five, with the most noticeable symptom being a red, spotted rash on the hands and feet.
Although it’s generally not serious, parents should be vigilant for symptoms in their children. Keeping sick kids away from others is advisable to help limit the spread, according to experts in infectious diseases.
According to the CDC, most individuals recover on their own within seven to ten days.
Dr. Jessie Saverimuttu, an infectious disease specialist and chair of the Infectious Control Committee at Richmond University Medical Center, noted that doctors treat symptoms as they arise and let the virus run its course.
She mentioned that many patients display flu-like symptoms. The illness is commonly seen in children who tend to congregate in close quarters for summer activities like school or camp.
The virus can survive on surfaces and in fluids from wounds. However, it’s most frequently transmitted through respiratory droplets when people talk, sneeze, or cough.
Additionally, experts highlight that it may spread through feces, such as in unclean diapers and contaminated pool water.
Dr. Saverimuttu added, “Coughing is the main way it spreads. If someone is unwell, they really should take precautions.” Not doing so is not fair to others, she pointed out.
So far this summer, Northwell Staten Island University Hospital has reported a few cases.
Dr. Norman Ng, an emergency physician at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, indicated that cases tend to increase in late summer and early fall.
He recommended frequent handwashing to help prevent both catching and spreading the infection. Disinfecting household surfaces and keeping ill children at home until they’re fever-free is also crucial.
The CDC further advises against touching the face. Parents should assist their children with hygiene, especially in keeping blisters clean.
Although RUMC has not reported any cases, Dr. Saverimuttu noted this doesn’t rule out its presence. A child could have respiratory symptoms without showing the typical rash and may not visit a hospital.
The CDC doesn’t track hand, foot and mouth disease cases, making hard data on prevalence scarce.
However, health officials in several states, including Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia, do monitor outbreaks. Reports suggest an increase in outbreaks in 2025 compared to previous years.
In neighboring boroughs, the number of reported cases seems to be higher than on Staten Island.
Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician at Columbia University, expressed her concern, stating, “I’ve been in pediatrics for almost a decade, and I can’t recall seeing this many cases over such a short timeframe.”
