VI Department of Health briefs senators on hand‑foot‑and‑mouth outbreak, measles risk and vaccination push

Commissioner Houston Carnacian of the Virgin Islands Department of Health told the Senate committee on April 22 that the department has been working to control several contagious illnesses affecting the territory and to increase vaccine awareness.

Carnacian briefed senators about four priorities: hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease (HFMD), measles, COVID‑19 and seasonal influenza, and described the department’s coordinated response that includes data surveillance, provider engagement and public messaging.

"As of Friday, April 19, a total of 277 cases of hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease have been reported," Carnacian said, adding that most were in the Saint Thomas–Saint John district. The department has focused on outreach to schools and daycares, providing on‑site infection control training and recommending enhanced hygiene and environmental cleaning rather than broad closures.

Deputy Territorial Epidemiologist Lisa Ekpo told the committee the first reported HFMD case was in Saint Thomas and that epidemiologists used that early signal to step up messaging in Saint Croix before more cases appeared there. "We do know the first reported case was reported here in Saint Thomas, and we did all our…