The St. Mary’s County Health Department reported a notable uptick in hand, foot and mouth disease cases and related outbreaks across the county as of October 27, 2025, urging residents to adopt preventive steps amid the viral illness’s spread in child care settings and schools. The department emphasized that while the condition primarily affects young children, adults face risks too, particularly in close-contact environments common to Southern Maryland communities.
Health officials noted the increase stems from enteroviruses, a group that includes coxsackievirus A16 as the most frequent culprit behind hand, foot and mouth disease, or HFMD. Initial signs mimic a standard cold: fever, sore throat and malaise, followed by a distinctive rash of red spots or blisters on the hands, feet and inside the mouth. These sores can cause discomfort during eating or drinking, but most cases resolve within seven to 10 days without intervention. The virus lingers, however, allowing transmission for weeks post-recovery, which complicates containment in group settings.
Transmission occurs readily through respiratory droplets from coughs, sneezes or conversations, as well as direct contact like hugging or sharing utensils. Fecal-oral routes play a role, especially during diaper changes, and contaminated surfaces such as toys or doorknobs serve as vectors when followed by face-touching. In St. Mary’s County, where family-oriented spots like the Lexington Park library’s story times or Great Mills playgrounds draw crowds, such pathways amplify risks during the fall season, when HFMD peaks despite its summer associations.
To curb spread, the health department recommends thorough handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds after restroom use, diaper handling or respiratory episodes. Parents should guide children in this habit and maintain blister hygiene. Disinfecting high-touch items, including play equipment at home or in centers, proves essential, alongside avoiding facial contact with unclean hands. These measures align with broader Maryland guidelines, which stress exclusion from group activities for those with active symptoms to protect vulnerable groups.
Treatment remains supportive, relying on over-the-counter remedies for fever and mouth sore pain, alongside hydration and soft foods to ease discomfort. Serious issues like dehydration or neurological effects arise infrequently, but parents should consult providers if symptoms worsen or uncertainty arises about return timelines. Children may resume school or child care once fever-free for 24 hours without medication, feeling fit for participation and free of drooling from oral sores, with any skin lesions covered and non-draining.
This local rise mirrors a statewide pattern, with Maryland logging 118 HFMD outbreaks through early September 2025, surpassing the 48 recorded in 2024 and approaching the 145 from 2023. Experts attribute the jump to extended warm weather and improved surveillance, per state health data. Neighboring Prince George’s County Public Schools confirmed cases at more than 40 facilities as of October 23, prompting alerts to families on symptom monitoring and hygiene. Such regional echoes highlight enteroviruses’ efficiency in school-aged clusters, where St. Mary’s County Public Schools serves about 8,500 students across 18 elementary sites, many in densely populated areas near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
HFMD traces to the enterovirus genus, non-enveloped RNA viruses resilient to environmental stressors, explaining their persistence on surfaces. First identified in New Zealand in 1957, the illness gained its name from hallmark lesions, though variants can involve buttocks or limbs. In Maryland, outbreaks cluster in summer through fall, driven by indoor gatherings as temperatures cool.
Parents in areas like California or Mechanicsville, where child care options blend licensed centers with family-based providers, benefit from tailored advice: Stock soft, cool foods like yogurt or applesauce for sore mouths, and use numbing gels sparingly under guidance. The department also promotes vaccination catch-up clinics, though no HFMD-specific shot exists, underscoring hygiene’s primacy.
Beyond immediate steps, long-term vigilance involves annual reviews of outbreak trends via the Maryland Department of Health’s surveillance system, which tracks reportable conditions like enteroviral illnesses. In St. Mary’s, where about 25 percent of residents are under 18, such data informs targeted campaigns, including bilingual materials for the county’s growing Hispanic community. While complications remain rare—less than 1 percent involve hospitalization statewide—early detection prevents escalation, especially for immunocompromised individuals.
Residents seeking details can access the health department’s dedicated page, which outlines visuals of symptoms and printable prevention checklists. For broader context, the state site provides enterovirus overviews. Reporting suspected cases to providers aids tracking, ensuring swift coordination with facilities like MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown.
As fall progresses, these efforts underscore community resilience in managing seasonal threats, keeping Southern Maryland’s young population active through holidays and beyond.
