The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding parents of the simple steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and winter illnesses.
As children return to school following the winter break, norovirus, RSV and Covid activity is increasing.
The latest surveillance data from UKHSA shows that flu activity also continued to increase over the Christmas break, with hospitalisations also increasing.
Dr Richard Pebody, Director, Clinical & Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: “It’s an important time of year, as children get started on the new school term.
(Image: Getty Images)
“There are simple steps you can take to help stop the spread of nasty illness in the next few weeks of winter, including making sure your child is regularly washing their hands, knowing when to keep your child off school and ensuring they are up to date with vaccinations.”
These are the UKHSA’s top tips for keeping your children healthy this winter.
Teaching good hygiene habits
Parents are urged to encourage good hygiene habits in their families, such as handwashing and using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes. Regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser when convenient, is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs.
Knowing when to keep your child at home
Children are encouraged to stay in school or nursery with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough (if otherwise well and do not have a high temperature), but should stay home if they’re displaying symptoms such as having a fever (they should stay home until the fever has passed and they are well enough to attend) or diarrhoea and vomiting (children should stay home for at least 48 hours after these symptoms clear up).
Stopping the spread of stomach bugs
Stomach bugs spread easily in schools and nurseries. If you or your child have diarrhoea and vomiting, washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading. Don’t prepare food for others if you have such symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop. If you are unwell, you should also avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to avoid passing on the infection to those more vulnerable. It’s important that all children are given the opportunity to start the year in good health, which is why it’s important not to return to school, nursery or work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Getting vaccinated
Infections such as flu, which see a seasonal increase in winter, are easily protected against with vaccination. All primary school age children, those aged 2 years and all 3-year-olds (and secondary school children from Year 7 to Year 11) are eligible for the flu vaccine, which beyond protecting the children themselves and the school community, will also protect elderly relatives.
It’s also important to ensure your children are up-to-date with their routine vaccinations, which protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio. UKHSA is continuing to see cases of measles, which is easily prevented with vaccination. If parents are unsure of their child’s vaccination status, they can check their child’s red book or contact their local GP.