KINGSTON, Jamaica — The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) says it is closely monitoring cases of hand, foot and mouth disease that have been found in at least three schools in the Corporate Area and six schools in St Catherine.

In a news release issued Monday afternoon, SERHA said its health departments in the respective parishes have been working closely with the schools to minimise the spread of the disease.

The Regional Authority said these schools have also been given guidelines for the management of hand, foot and mouth disease and that public health Inspectors have been deployed to the schools to assess the situation.

The hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children. Fevers and blister-like eruptions on the tongue, inside the cheek and on the skin are symptoms of the disease. Poor appetite and a sore throat are other symptoms of the disease SERHA said.

It can be spread through direct contact with mucus in the throat and nose, saliva, fluid from blisters and the stool of infected persons.

There is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause the disease, SERHA said.