Leo Gillick
The soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood military base have come down with the hand, foot, and mouth virus.
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The virus is transmitted via saliva, nasal secretions, and fluid from blisters and feces. Coughing and sneezing spread it, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces. The painful virus is usually found in nurseries, but a group of soldiers has also managed to contract the gross virus.
12 soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment have been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. They are all being treated for the virus and will remain in quarantine until the virus is under control.
Sick Soldiers Sorrow
Although the hand, foot, and mouth virus is unpleasant and painful for the soldiers, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s often caught by children in close quarters settings. The disease doesn’t usually require treatment and will typically go away on its own.
The soldiers will be suffering from a fever, sore throat, and a rash on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, hence the name. It’s not a pretty sight, and they won’t be having a good time. But they’re trained soldiers, and I am sure they have dealt with worse.
To curtail the disease, the soldiers are being told to keep extra clean. The barracks and communal spaces are also being subject to extra cleaning procedures. Hand sanitiser stations are being placed around the military base to encourage the soldiers to wash their hands.
The soldiers have been briefed on the telltale signs of the painful virus. If they’re able to catch it early on, it will stop further infections.
Close group areas, such as a military base, are often hives for infection outbreaks. The close quarters living situations mean that if one person goes down with an infectious disease, others will follow. The trick is to keep everyone extra clean and ensure that personal hygiene is practiced by all.
