{"id":16109,"date":"2025-10-24T16:59:58","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T20:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=16109"},"modified":"2025-10-24T16:59:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T20:59:58","slug":"rappahannock-area-health-district-sees-rise-in-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreaks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-news-releases\/rappahannock-area-health-district-sees-rise-in-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease-outbreaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Rappahannock Area Health District Sees Rise in Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Outbreaks"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 24, 2025
\nMedia Contact:<\/strong> Erin Perkins, erin.perkins@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rappahannock Area Health District Sees Rise in Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Outbreaks<\/strong>
\nHealth Officials Offer Prevention Tips<\/em><\/p>\n

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. \u2013<\/strong> Public health officials are currently seeing an increase in hand, foot, and mouth disease<\/a> (HFMD) outbreaks in the Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD). Since August, RAHD has investigated three separate outbreaks at both child daycare facilities and elementary schools across the district. \u00a0The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is seeing an increase in HFMD<\/a> emergency department and urgent care visits, as well as an increase in reported HFMD outbreaks across the state in 2025.<\/p>\n

HFMD is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than five years of age; however, it can also affect older children and adults. HFMD is spread from person to person by close contact with an infected individual or contact with virus-contaminated surfaces. Infected people are most contagious during the first week of the illness.<\/p>\n

HFMD symptoms<\/a> include:<\/p>\n