Communicable Disease Control Manual For Schools and Other Childcare Settings In West Yorkshire PLEASE ENSURE ALL STAFF HAVE ACCESS TO A COPY OF THIS GUIDANCE November 2009 2 Acknowledgements The main contributors to this document from the West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit team are:- Elaine McAleese Child Health Lead for West Yorkshire Gail Evans Health Protection Nurse Specialist Julie Hartley Health Protection Nurse Specialist Lynne Hartley Health Protection Nurse Specialist Patricia Lister Health Protection Nurse Specialist Rebecca Ingham Senior Environmental Health Practitioner Administrative support for the production of this document was provided by:- Shirley-Anne Felton-Glenn Administrative Assistant to Health Protection Nurse Specialists Anne White Receptionist Any suggested amendments or feedback on this document should be emailed to
[email protected] 3 Foreword Every day approximately 340,000 children attend school and other childcare settings in West Yorkshire where they acquire knowledge and understanding of the world around them. It is also the place that provides a great learning opportunity for children’s immune system. During our early life we are exposed to a wide range of infectious diseases. This is an unavoidable and necessary part of growing up. Vaccinations can only protect against a limited number of diseases, for the rest we must either be exposed to them and build up our own resistance or, if possible, avoid being exposed to them. Infections can spread quickly in the childcare setting. Many will be minor and self-limiting, though unpleasant for the child, but if large numbers of children are affected then these infectious disease can be disruptive for teachers, parents and the childcare setting as a whole.