Practicing Personal Hygiene Such as Handwashing and Cough Etiquette... Infectious Diseases, the 'Best Prevention Method'

Infectious Disease Alert: Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease and Enterovirus

Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province reported that hand, foot, and mouth disease was the most frequently occurring illness among enterovirus infections, which are classified as legally designated infectious diseases. (2022 Disease Control Agency Sample Surveillance Infectious Disease Management Guidelines)

Poster warning about infectious diseases such as hand, foot, and mouth disease and enterovirus.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease and enteroviruses mainly occur year-round from April to May, primarily affecting infants and children (mainly under 5 years old). Since these diseases mainly occur in childcare facilities such as daycare centers and kindergartens, there is a high risk of outbreaks, so caution is required. Although students and adults can also be infected, symptoms tend to be mild.

Both hand, foot, and mouth disease and enteric viruses are transmitted through respiratory secretions such as saliva droplets released when coughing or sneezing, or through direct contact with hands or blisters (vesicles).

The illness begins with symptoms similar to a cold. If suspected symptoms appear, avoid contact with others and seek medical attention at a nearby healthcare facility. If infection is suspected, to prevent outbreaks, avoid crowded places.

Choi Hyun-joo, director of the Gumi Public Health Center, urged for the prevention of hand, foot, and mouth disease and enterovirus infections, which can cause group outbreaks in daycare centers, lower grades of elementary schools, and middle and high schools: “Infected students should especially refrain from attending school during the contagious period. Practicing personal hygiene such as handwashing, proper cough etiquette, and thorough environmental management is the easiest and most effective way to prevent infection, so please adhere well to the prevention guidelines.”