A warning has gone out to parents of Prince George’s County Public Schools students about a spike in hand, foot and mouth disease. So far students in more than 40 schools have reported cases of the virus, impacting students from preschool to high school, since the school year began in late August.

“It is a communicable disease,” said Dr. Traci Jones, who is the supervisor for the Office of School Health for Prince George’s County Public Schools. “It is not a life-threatening communicable disease, but it is a communicable disease that is easily transmitted.”

She said kids should be properly washing their hands and staying home if they have symptoms, such as fever or open blisters.

The school system said the very early symptoms are similar to that of a cold: fever, lack of appetite, a s

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