Reducing the spread of illness this winter

Flu and other winter viruses are circulating across the South West and in Devon with escalating number of enquiries to UKHSA due to school outbreaks, not only illness of staff and students, but also operational challenges being seen due to staff absence.

While some illnesses are unavoidable, illnesses due to infections can be reduced with simple proactive measure that minimise the spread of infections. Although maintaining high school attendance is a priority, ensuring both students and staff stay at home whilst ill and potentially infectious is key to prevent infections spreading.

The key points to reinforce with parents and staff to minimise the spread of infection in school are:

• Where a student/staff member has a temperature, even if it is managed with medication, this is a sign they could be infectious and should stay away from school until the temperature has gone
• Staff and student should stay away from school for 48 hours after symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting have stopped and be well enough to return to school
• Advising and encouraging good hand and respiratory hygiene in staff and students
• Good quality daily cleaning
• Maintain ventilation in classrooms with windows open slightly and/or opening windows and doors between lessons
• Consider staff and student illness in risk assessments for any visits out of schools, particularly to any vulnerable settings such as care homes.