The Iowa Department of Public health says a mild but highly contagious viral disease has spreading across the state.

D-P-H Medical Director Caitlin Pedati (pah-DOT-ee) says the heat may be contributing the high number hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases. The symptoms include a sore throat and a miserable rash. The disease is contagious so Pedati says it’s important that those who have it stay home for several weeks after the symptoms are gone.

While Pedati says anecdotally there are more cases than usual this time of year, the department doesn’t count incidences of hand-foot and mouth disease.