Maine CDC works to monitor and prevent infectious diseases in Maine. These diseases are caused by certain viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Viral infections that can cause rashes include chickenpox, shingles, rubella, and more.
Hand Foot Mouth
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by a group of viruses, called enteroviruses. HFMD occurs mainly in infants and children under 5 years old, but it can also occur in adults
Measles
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus that spreads easily from person-to-person. It can spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. This disease is also called rubeola.
Mpox
Mpox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with mpox virus. Mpox belongs to the same group of viruses that includes smallpox and cowpox. Mpox cases in humans in the U.S. have been linked to international travel as well as imported animals.
Rubella
Rubella (German Measles) is an infection caused by the rubella virus. It is spread by mucus or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person, usually when a person coughs or sneezes.
Smallpox
Smallpox is an acute, contagious, and sometimes fatal disease caused by the variola virus, and marked by fever and a distinctive progressive skin rash. Prolonged face-to-face contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to another. Smallpox also can be spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing.
Varicella
Varicella (Chickenpox and Shingles) is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mainly spreads from unvaccinated people with chickenpox to other people who have never had the virus before. It causes an itchy, blister-like rash in most people.