High school football game postponed due to virus outbreak

Football helmet on grass

PEQUANNOCK, N.J. – An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has forced a New Jersey high school to postpone its season-opening football game.

District officials say three Pequannock High School players became ill in late August.

The school's fields and locker rooms were sanitized Aug. 31 and again on Friday. But officials learned last weekend that five more players had the illness and three others were showing symptoms.

District officials say a school doctor recommended that this week's practices be canceled and that Friday night's game against Boonton be postponed. The game has been tentatively re-scheduled for Nov. 18.

Hand, foot and mouth disease often causes painful sores inside the mouth and a skin rash on the hands or feet. It can spread through close personal contact and through coughing or sneezing.