High school cancels football game after players contract contagious disease

FORT MILL, S.C. — Catawba Ridge High School canceled Friday night's football game after several players contracted a contagious disease.

Catawba Ridge was scheduled to play against Ardrey Kell.

But, the school said the game was canceled because of an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease among players on its varsity football team.

[ALSO READ: Highly contagious staph infection reported at Union Elementary School]

HFMD is a contagious viral infection commonly found in children. It can cause painful sores to develop in the mouth and a skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

[CDC: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease]

According to school officials, the disease is usually not serious and nearly all people who are infected recover in seven to 10 days without medical treatment.

The disease can be spread through direct contact, which is what prompted officials to cancel the game.

[ALSO READ: Third Union County student infected with highly contagious staph infection]

School officials said the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is aware of the outbreak and all locker room areas, sports equipment, bathrooms and desks will be sanitized.

This was Catawba Ridge's final game of the season. The school is not eligible for playoffs because this was the team's first year.

Many parents told Channel 9 they understand why the game was canceled, but are still disappointed.

Cox Media Group