The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on parents and carers to take simple, proactive steps to help children start the new school term on a healthy note. With flu cases rising and
high levels of other illnesses, such as norovirus, circulating, maintaining good hygiene is now more critical than ever.
Recent data from UKHSA reveals that flu activity continued to climb during the festive period, with a corresponding increase in hospital admissions. As children return to classrooms and parents head back to workplaces, reinforcing healthy habits can play a vital role in keeping families and schools illness-free.
Simple steps for preventing illness
Promote good hygiene practices
Parents and carers are encouraged to model and instill healthy hygiene routines. Teaching children to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and to wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds can help curb the spread of germs. Hand sanitizers may be used when necessary, but since alcohol gels are not effective against all viruses, handwashing remains the best defense.
Knowing when to keep children at home
While consistent school attendance is important for learning and social development, knowing when a child should stay home is equally crucial to prevent the spread of infections. Children with minor symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough can typically attend school if they do not have a fever. However, those with a high temperature should stay home until they recover. In cases of diarrhoea or vomiting, children should remain at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside.
For parents and carers with flu or COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, fatigue, or muscle aches, reducing contact with others is advised. If leaving the house is necessary, wearing a face covering can help minimize the risk of transmission.
Preventing the spread of stomach bugs
Stomach bugs, particularly norovirus, spread rapidly in environments like schools and nurseries. To prevent outbreaks, thorough handwashing with soap and warm water is essential, as alcohol-based gels do not kill norovirus. Additionally, cleaning surfaces with bleach-based products and avoiding food preparation while symptomatic—or for 48 hours after symptoms stop—can significantly reduce the risk of spreading infection. Visiting hospitals or care homes should also be avoided during illness to protect vulnerable individuals.
Vaccination: a key line of defense
Vaccination remains one of the most effective measures in preventing serious illnesses. Despite being late in the flu vaccination programme, those eligible but unvaccinated are still encouraged to get their flu shot.
Routine childhood vaccinations are equally important. Declining vaccination rates among young children last year led to a significant measles outbreak in England. Parents should ensure their children are up-to-date with routine immunizations for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and polio. If unsure, parents can check their child’s vaccination record in the red book or contact their GP.
Pregnant women are also urged to take up all recommended vaccinations, including the whooping cough vaccine and the new RSV vaccine, which offers protection for newborns against severe illness.
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. 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”. Photo by Lewis Clarke / Tiverton : Tiverton High School / CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia commons.