Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease on the Rise in Alabama
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 4, 2025
FOLEY, Ala.
The number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease are rising in several states across the country.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD is very contagious and usually causes fever, mouth sores, and skin rash and is common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it.
HFMD cases are up this year compared to last year in several states, but medical experts don’t have a conclusive answer as to why that is.
Alabama is one of those states.
A recent increase in hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases across Alabama, particularly in late 2025, has prompted alerts in daycares and schools.
Because the disease is highly contagious, some schools in Alabama have had to close and cancel classes due to outbreaks.
Recently, in Montgomery, Life Academy temporarily canceled classes due to the outbreaks.
And while most cases are mild, some may experience more severe symptoms.
With this disease being extremely contagious and spreads quickly, it can devastate a school or even a school system, similar to most communicable diseases that are spread rapidly.
Symptoms can take three to five days to appear, and it spreads through direct contact and shared surfaces such as desks, books, cafeteria surfaces and utensils.
Like with many communicable diseases, simple steps taken can prevent including things like washing your hands and staying away from other people when you don’t feel well, whether you’re a kid or an adult, are so important, and they’re so effective at stopping the transmission of viruses.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, there has also been an extreme rise in this disease there.
The state has seen an increase in emergency departments and urgent care visits for hand, foot and mouth disease across the state this year compared to last and several schools had to be temporarily closed.
“It gets that name, hand, foot and mouth because there’s a characteristic rash that comes with it, usually looks like little bumps or blisters, and you can get those on your hands, feet or mouth,” said Dr. Caitlin Pedati, director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health.
She said that HFMD is a common viral illness that usually peaks at the end of summer and beginning of fall. But this year, the number of outbreak investigations are up across the state, with more than 60 reported in September.
It’s common for children under the age of 5, and there is no vaccine.
If you are caring for someone with the illness, VDH recommends keeping the person hydrated and using over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and pain caused by mouth sores.
“While for most of us, hand, foot, and mouth disease is usually a mild illness, there are some among us for whom it can be more severe, and so, we want to protect those folks by limiting the spread of viruses like this,” Pedati said.
In Alabama, the state health department has issued several warnings about the disease.
The increase has also led to daycares and schools issuing warnings to parents about the disease spreading.
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