Disease Trends

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

We’ve heard of an increase in HFMD in child care centers in Whatcom County. HFMD is common in child care settings and spreads quickly. Here’s some information so you know what to look out for: https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/index.html

You can get hand, foot, and mouth disease by

• Contact with respiratory droplets containing virus particles after a sick person coughs or sneezes
• Touching an infected person or making other close contact, like kissing, hugging, or sharing cups or eating utensils
• Touching an infected person’s feces, such as changing diapers, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Touching objects and surfaces that have the virus on them, like doorknobs or toys, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

Symptoms - Most children have mild symptoms for 7-10 days.

• Fever and flu-like symptoms
• Mouth sores
• Skin rash (usually on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet

Treatment

• Take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and pain caused by mouth sores. Never give aspirin to children
• Drink enough liquids. Mouth sores can make it painful to swallow, so your child may not want to drink much. Make sure they drink enough to stay hydrated

Prevention

• Help children wash their hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared items
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Avoid close contact with sick people
• There is no vaccine to prevent HFMD

Generic parent letters for HFMD can be found here: http://providers.whatcomcounty.org/parent-letters/

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

How it spreads

• Person to person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space.

Early Symptoms (first 1-2 weeks)

• Runny nose
• Low grade fever
• Mild, occasional cough
• Apnea – a pause in breathing (in babies)

Later symptoms (after 1-2 weeks)

• Rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound
• Vomiting after coughing fits
• Exhaustion after coughing fits

Treatment

• Do not give cough medications unless instructed by your doctor.
• Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

Prevention

• Stay up to date on your vaccinations
• Take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.

Jif Recall 

The J. M. Smucker Co. is recalling select Jif peanut butter products sold in the U.S. due to potential Salmonella contamination. If you have Jif in your home purchased before June, Check codes along best-if-used-by date to see if they match any recalled products.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/j-m-smucker-co-issues-voluntary-recall-select-jifr-products-sold-us-potential-salmonella

Free COVID-19 At-home Tests

Child Care Providers

If your organization is interested in free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests, please fill out this inquiry form and we’ll fulfill your request based on available supplies. Please note, this is for community organizations within Whatcom County and is not for personal use

Individuals

Here are three ways individuals can get free tests, some sent directly to your home address:

1. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order two sets of four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order here: covidtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
2. Washington state residents can order up to two sets of five free at-home tests per month. Tests are completely free. Orders will usually arrive within 1-2 weeks. The free test kits are available for a limited time, while supplies last. Order here: https://sayyescovidhometest.org or call 1-800-525-0127.
3. If you have health insurance, most insurers will now reimburse you for up to 8 at-home tests per month, for each person on your plan.
   
   

Contact Us

Whatcom County Health Department
1500 N State St., Ste 100, Bellingham, WA 98225

Email: [email protected]
Communicable Disease Main Line: 360-778-6117

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