VERNON — The Vernon Recreation Centre is advising swimmers to be cautious of hand, foot and mouth disease after a child in swimming lessons was diagnosed with the virus on Friday.
The Centre says swimmers who visited the Vernon Aquatic Centre on March 30 and 31 should take extra precautions and practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Centre has contacted Interior Health Authority and was told the chlorine levels in the pools are sufficient to kill the virus. But it is also taking additional steps to disinfect the pool area and change rooms.
Hand, foot and mouth virus is highly contagious and can spread through personal contact, or droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms start three to five after contact with an infected person.
Some symptoms include:
• Fever
• Runny nose or sore throat
• Painful blisters inside mouth
• Small, red spots on hand, feet or buttocks
• Peeling skin
• Loss of fingernails or toenails