August 18, 2025 Best Practices to Prevent the Spread of Infections As the new school year begins, early learning programs can reduce the spread of illness by following routine health and safety practices. Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease The number of hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases are growing in the Philadelphia region. The illness, which typically produces rashes and painful sores, has primarily been spreading in day care centers and summer camps. Hand-foot-and-mouth is a mild illness caused by viruses – most often, a virus known as coxsackievirus A16 – according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is most common in young children, but people of any age can catch it. Viruses that cause the illness can spread easily between people and through the air. Symptoms of the disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. While there’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth, most people get better in seven to 10 days. With the 2025-25 school year approaching, the likelihood of viruses like hand-foot-and-mouth and respiratory viruses spreading among students at school is on the rise. Preventing the Spread of Illnesses The CDC has provided guidance on how students can stay healthy by minimizing the spread of infections in school. Infections often spread because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, a lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation. The CDC recommends that schools emphasize: Take steps for cleaner air Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting Hand washing Respiratory etiquette Vaccinations Cleaner Air The CDC suggests improving air quality by improving ventilation in buildings or moving gatherings outside. Strategies to provide cleaner air include: Ensuring existing HVAC systems are providing the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirement in accordance with ventilation design codes Considering ventilation design and/or enhancements when remodeling or constructing new buildings to optimize clean air Opening windows to increase ventilation, as long as this does not create a safety hazard Using portable air cleaners in spaces with low ventilation Holding some activities outside, such as lunch, certain classes, or recess Keeping bus windows open when it does not create a safety hazard Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Schools should put into place procedures for routinely cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often – such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Surfaces that are visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids should be immediately cleaned. Schools should consult with their state or local health department to determine how to clean and disinfect particular infectious diseases when new pathogens emerge. Hand Washing Teaching and reinforcing proper handwashing can lower the risk of spreading illnesses. Schools should set routines or scheduled opportunities for handwashing throughout the day. Schools should also provide adequate handwashing supplies – soap, water, and power towels – within easy reach of users. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be provided. Respiratory Etiquette Schools should teach and reinforce respiratory etiquette to keep individuals from getting and spreading respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. Teachers should reinforce covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, students and staff should be reminded to sneeze into the elbow, not the hands. Handwashing should be performed immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccinations Schools are recommended to stay up to date on vaccinations for students. All states have vaccination requirements for children attending school. Schools and health departments can promote routine and annual vaccinations by: Providing information about recommended vaccines to staff, students, and families Promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines Establish supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated easy and convenient Make vaccinations available on-site by hosting school-located vaccination clinics or connect children, students, staff, and families to off-site locations More information on the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses can be found on its website.
December 3, 2019 Preventing the Flu with Young Children Did you know that “children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old and children with chronic health conditions, are at a greater risk for serious flu complications?” If so, you probably know how important it is to understand the signs and symptoms of influenza (flu), as the infection can cause “mild to severe illness, pneumonia, and other complications.” To best care for your young child this flu season, consider implementing the following best practices provided by HealthyChildren.org. What is the flu? HealthyChildren.org states that the flu “is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs caused by the influenza virus.” As caregivers of young children, it’s important to catch flu symptoms early and implement proper treatment. While most people will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, some individuals, especially young children, have an increased risk of flu-related complications, some of which may result in hospital stays or could be life-threatening. Some complications include pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections. Flu Symptoms If your child has the flu, they may exhibit some of the following symptoms: fever cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose body aches headache chills fatigue vomiting diarrhea Please note that “some people sick with the flu may not have a fever.” Best Practices to Avoid the Flu To protect your child against the flu, consider implementing the following best practices: Make sure your child (age six months or older) receives a flu vaccine every year. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your child against the virus. Children younger than six months are at a high risk of serious flu illness, however, they are too young to be vaccinated. Because of this, caregivers of the young child should be vaccinated instead in order to protect them. For pregnant individuals, receiving a vaccination while pregnant is encouraged, as “the antibody produced in response to the vaccine also offers protection to the developing baby.” Talk with your doctor to discuss the flu vaccine and how many doses are recommended for you and your child. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Wash hands often with soap and running water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water and soap are unavailable. Encourage your child to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth and encourage them to use a tissue or elbow to cough or sneeze into. Keep surfaces in the house and toys clean using household disinfectants according to the directions on the product label. Have a plan in case your child becomes sick with the flu. What to Do if Your Child is Sick If your child is exhibiting flu-like symptoms, call or take your child to the doctor; keep your child at home until they no longer have a fever for at least 24 hours and are feeling like themselves (excluding doctor visits); make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated; ask your doctor about fever-reducing medicines if such medicines are necessary; keep your child in a separate room (sick room) in the house and limit as much contact as possible with other members of the household who are not sick; make one person in the house the main caregiver of the sick child; and, if possible, avoid having a pregnant person as the main caregiver of the sick child. A child should not go back to school, pre-kindergarten, or their child care program until their fever (101° F/38.3° C or greater) has been gone for at least 24 hours without the assistance of fever-reducing medicines. With this, it’s recommended to ask your child’s school or child care provider what their plan is for the flu season. Let them know if your child is at high-risk for flu-related problems. More Information For more information on prevention and best practices, visit HealthyChildren.org. *Information provided by HealthyChildren.org To learn more about Trying Together, visit our home page.
