Infectious Diseases

There are many infectious diseases that affect children and young people including:

• chicken pox (html)
• gastroenteritis (html)
• mumps (html)
• influenza (html)
• measles (html)
• rubella (german measles) (html)
• whooping cough (pertussis) (html)

Primary school students who do not have proof of immunisation may have to stay at home during an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease at school. Particular arrangements will be worked out by the local public health unit in consultation with the school.

Schools may notify parents of the outbreak so that families are aware of the symptoms.

NSW Health provides:

• Communicable disease information for parents, teachers and childcare workers on whooping cough and meningococcal disease.
• Summary information on issues related to managing children with an infectious disease.
• Fact sheets with more detailed information on specific infectious diseases.  For other language factsheets go to the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service site.

Schools and parents should contact their local public health unit for advice regarding infectious diseases.

Principals must contact their public health unit to notify any of the following vaccine preventable diseases:

• Diphtheria
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella (German measles)
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Polio

Principals are referred to Infection Control Guidelines (Intranet only) for further information about contacting public health units and on communicating with the school community about infectious diseases.