Infectious Diseases: Prevention and Control
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In 2012, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported infectious diseases are responsible for more fatalities worldwide than any other cause of death. Schools are prone to infectious disease transmission because of the large numbers of students and staff that work in close proximity to one another and use communal equipment. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported infectious diseases are responsible for millions of school days lost each year for K12 public school students in the United States. It is estimated that 40% of school-age children missed 3 or more school days in the past year because of illness or injury. Annually, 22 million school days are lost because of colds and 38 million school days are lost to the flu. Schools have the ability to help prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases through education, promoting proper hygiene, disinfecting shared surfaces, and requiring the vaccination of students and staff. This entry defines infectious diseases and discusses their prevention and control, highlighting implications and recommendations for school health.
