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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has appeared in Yellowknife among toddlers and young children.

Linda Benedict, executive director of the Yellowknife Day Care Association said over a two-week period there have been 10 to 12 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

The rash seen here is caused by the viral infection known as hand, foot and mouth disease. The rash goes along with common cold-like symptoms and ulcers in the mouth. - photo courtesy of MidgleyDJ at en.wikipedia

It is not related to diseases in cattle or other animals and Benedict said there is no need for alarm because the disease tends to appear around this time of year.

"It sounds bad, but it's not that bad," she said. "It's like a cold and it gets passed from person to person and they recover from it just like a cold."

The moderately contagious disease is caused by intestinal viruses and is contracted through direct contact with mucus, saliva or feces of an infected person or through the air like a cold.

Symptoms will begin to show within 10 to 14 days of becoming infected. Laurie Parton, manager of the Yellowknife Public Health Unit, said early symptoms are similar to a cold and the biggest indicator would be signs of a rash.

"The child can appear to be unwell with signs of a fever, headache, a lack of energy and appetite, very similar to a common cold," she said. "The rash (is) typically on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet. Sometimes they may have small, painful ulcers in their mouth. The more telling symptom would be the rash."

Hygiene plays a big role in the disease's spread and both Benedict and Parton said making sure children wash their hands frequently will help prevent them from getting the disease.

"If your child is young and they tend to put their fingers in their mouth, as much as you can stop that you need to stop that," Benedict said.

Parton also added that educating kids on washing their hands will lessen their chances of contracting the virus, but won't completely eliminate the risk.

"Teaching children about being careful about washing hands before they go to eat or preparing food - that's going to help," she said. "It's a virus that is out and around and it's difficult to totally prevent."