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Environmental Health & Safety » Communicable Disease

Communicable Disease

Students and staff are particularly vulnerable to the spread of communicable diseases because of the large number of close interactions they have on a daily basis. The greater the number of interactions, the greater is the risk of becoming infected. As a result, it is never practicably possible to fully prevent all communicable diseases, but it is possible to reduce the risk substantially. Fortunately, there are a few simple strategies and activities that go a long way towards preventing the spread of infection in schools.

What are Communicable diseases?

Communicable diseases refer to diseases that can be transmitted and make people ill.
Communicable diseases spread from one person to another. The spread often happens via airborne viruses or bacteria, but also through blood or other bodily fluid.

Communicable diseases include: Influenza, Measles, Meningitis, Adenovirus, Chicken pox, Norovirus, Pertussis, Mumps, West Nile virus, MRSA, etc. For a full list with information about each condition follow this link to the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service: Diseases & Health Topics A-Z List

How do these communicable diseases spread?

How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious agent. Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by:

  1. physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (MRSA, conjunctivitis), sexual contact (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)
  2. contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norovirus), food (salmonella, E. coli), blood (HIV, hepatitis B), or water (cholera);
  3. bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (malaria, rabies, Hanta virus); and
  4. inhalation, such as tuberculosis or measles.

What steps are being taken to prevent the spread of communicable diseases?

Effective prevention of communicable diseases in our schools not only safeguards the health of students and staff by minimizing the harm caused by the diseases, but also ensures a learning environment that supports the healthy development of our students.

The District follows established universal precautions* to minimize the spread of disease including surface cleaning and sanitizing, maintaining mechanical measures (air filters, etc.) and ensuring good hand and respiratory hygiene practices are followed by all. (Posters on prevention may be found at the bottom of this page)

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is a basic infection control measure to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Constant reminders are visible around our buildings and in our classrooms. The common hand hygiene practices include hand washing and proper use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Hand washing is the single most effective way of preventing the spread of infection

Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands (CDC video)

Wash Your Hands (CDC video for young children)

Respiratory Hygiene

Covering both the nose and mouth with a handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing and washing hands immediately after contacting respiratory secretions or touching objects contaminated with respiratory secretions will prevent the spread of disease.

Environmental Hygiene

The purpose of environmental hygiene is to reduce the number of germs to a level that is not harmful to health. If the environment is not cleaned regularly there is a build-up of dirt, which supports the growth of germs. The district follows a routine cleaning program, which includes surface cleaning and sanitizing, to reduce the number of germs in the environment to a safe level.

(Note: detailed precautions may be found in the District Exposure Control Plan, Indoor Air Quality Plan, and Facilities Operations Maintenance Plans).

Health Departments

P.O. Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
 
15 Pioneer Way
Westampton, NJ 08060

609-265-5548

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