Hand, Foot, Mouth Virus In Monterey County - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. - Pacific Grove Unified School District sent a letter to parents to notify them a child in their program has the hand, foot and mouth syndrome. The virus is not a new virus, but what is different about it now is Monterey County is seeing more cases of it, and the Health Department is seeing a new strain of the virus.

"The virus that we see usually affects kids that are younger than 5 years of age, but we are seeing it in older kids and even adults. Some of the symptoms with hand, foot and mouth is blisters on the hand and feet, but now we are seeing blisters on other places and sometimes the blisters are bigger," said Monterey Health Department Interim Chief Dr. Lisa Hernandez.

We asked our Facebook friends whether your kids or kids you know caught the virus. And dozens spoke out. Lazzette Cabrera said her son has it bad last year. Nicole Miller's daughters had it and she said it was very painful. What's tricky about this virus is a person can be contagious even without showing any symptoms. That's why Dr. Hernandez says don't take any chances.

"They have to stay at home, and it's very important even when they are feeling better, if they have those blisters and they haven't scabbed over or big blisters that haven't even popped then they have to stay home, no matter how good they look," said Hernandez.