MONTGOMERY, Ala. —
Alabama state health officials are investigating several cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, a contagious viral illness which has struck the state more severely than normal this year.
Based on testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the virus being seen in Alabama is the Coxsackie A6 virus, the Alabama Department of Health said in a statement. This specific type of virus has been identified in other countries, but has not previously been associated with an outbreak in the U.S., Alabama health officials said.
The virus affects the hands, feet and mouth and usually infects young children, according to officials with the Alabama Department of Health.
This year, it is being seen in teenagers and adults in Alabama, said Tina Pippin, surveillance nurse manager with the health department. That is unusual, Pippin told The Montgomery Advertiser (http://on.mgmadv.com/xmCQvU ).
Researchers can’t say for certain why hand, foot and mouth disease is active this time of year, authorities said. It is typically seen in the summer and early fall.
Pippin said that as of last week, Alabama’s health department had 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in the state. There have been no known deaths, though some people have been hospitalized.
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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com
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