Coxsackie Virus Benches High School Football Team In Ramsey, N.J.

RAMSEY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- An entire high school team in Ramsey, New Jersey was benched for almost a week due to a virus going around.

As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, a doctor said the virus spread like wildfire.

It has been eerily empty on the football field at Don Bosco High School since last Wednesday, considering high school football practice is paramount this time of year.

Don Bosco athletic director Brian McAleer did not want to speak on camera, but says the Coxsackie virus infected 15 football players -- putting an abrupt stop to practice since last Wednesday.

School parents are on alert.

"My 7-year-old had it about two years ago, and basically, they said he got it from a cheap carnival – somewhere where he was playing," one man said. "And it just lasted like a week."

Urgent Care Dr. Cathleen Saros said Coxsackie has been around for centuries. She said it spreads as quickly as the stomach bug or flu.

"You can get it from a doorknob if an infected patient touches a doorknob and then you touch the doorknob, and touch your eye or your mouth, you can get Coxsackie that way," Saros said.

The virus lasts about a week and remains contagious for a week. It runs its course naturally.

Dr. Saros said symptoms include a fever, sore throat, rash, and in some cases blisters in the mouth.

Saros said her son goes to neighboring Ramsey High School.

"There's some viral issues going on that just popped up two days ago," she said. "So I think they'll follow it if anybody develops the rash."

School officials said Bergen County health workers have been disinfecting the school, and the principal even hired an outside company to sanitize the field. As of this weekend, no new cases of Coxsackie had been reported - prompting the athletic director to resume practice this evening.

The athletic director said the school's soccer and track teams didn't have any issues. They play on another field on the other side of campus.

CBS2 was told football practice resumes Monday night, and the team plays its first game of the season in Florida Friday.