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Infectious diseases in childcare settings and schools

The “Infectious diseases in childcare settings and schools” manual informs administrators, childcare providers, caregivers, parents and guardians, and school health staff about specific infectious disease problems they may encounter in childcare settings or schools. This manual is designed to provide specific disease prevention and control guidelines which are consistent with the national standards put forth by the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This sixth edition of this manual contains:

  • 47 fact sheets specifically for parents/guardians of childcare and school-aged children. Each of these are labeled “Parent fact sheet.”
  • 54 fact sheets for providers about specific infectious disease problems. Each of these are labeled “Provider fact sheet.”

Some provider fact pages indicate when immediate action is necessary. Please note that the provider must consult with the local or state health department on the fact sheets labeled “Reportable.”

Section 1 – Staff and children guidelines

Exclusion of Ill Persons

Communicable Disease Concerns for Pregnant Women

Human Biting Incidents

Section 2 – Environment guidelines

Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting

Diapering

Food Safety in Childcare Settings and Schools

Pets in Childcare Settings and Schools

Wading Pools

Section 4 – Reporting communicable disease

Communicable Disease Reporting

General information about communicable disease reporting (PDF, 1MB)

Information includes:

  • Minnesota Reporting Rule
  • Reports from Parents/Guardians or Staff
  • Reports to Local/State Health Department
  • Local/State Health Department Disease
  • Prevention and Control Resources in Minnesota

Section 5 – Communicable disease control and management

General information about communicable disease control and management (PDF, 1MB)

Information includes:

  • Control and Management of Exposures and Outbreaks
  • Reports to Local/State Health Departments
  • Notification of Parents/Guardians and Childcare or School Staff
  • Sample line list (PDF, 1MB)

Section 6 – Fact sheets for communicable disease

How and when to use fact sheets (PDF, 1MB)

Bedbugs

Bronchitis, acute (chest cold/bronchiolitis)

Campylobacteriosis

C. Diff

Chest cold (see Bronchitis, acute)

Chickenpox (varicella)

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

COVID-19

Croup

Cryptosporidiosis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Diarrhea (infectious)

E. coli O157:H7 infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)

Enteroviral infection

Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)

Giardiasis

H1N1 influenza (see Influenza)

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Head lice

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

  • If you have a concern about hepatitis B, please contact Epidemiology at 612-543-5230.

Hepatitis C

  • If you have a concern about hepatitis C, please contact Epidemiology at 612-543-5230.

Herpes gladiatorum

Herpes, oral

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/AIDS

  • If you have a concern about HIV, please contact Epidemiology at 612-543-5230.

Impetigo

Influenza - seasonal influenza, H1N1 influenza (also called swine flu), and influenza-like illness (ILI)

Lice (see Head lice)

Measles

Meningococcal disease

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Molluscum contagiosum

Mononucleosis

MRSA (see Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus)

Mumps (parotitis)

Norovirus

Parapertussis

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Pinworms

Pneumococcal infection

Pneumonia

Respiratory infection (viral)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection

Ringworm

Roseola

Rotaviral infection

Rubella (also called German measles)

Salmonellosis

Scabies

Shigellosis

Shingles (zoster)

Staph skin infection

Streptococcal infection (strep throat/scarlet fever)

Streptococcus pneumoniae (see Pneumococcal infection)

Tuberculosis

  • If you have a concern about tuberculosis, please contact Epidemiology at 612-543-5230.

Viral meningitis

Warts

Yeast infection (candidiasis)

Section 7 – Health care provider evaluation form

Health care provider evaluation form (PDF, 1MB)

Section 8 – Immunization resource

Immunization resource (PDF, 1MB)

Section 9 – Minnesota laws related to childcare/schools

Minnesota laws related to childcare/schools (PDF, 1MB)

Section 10 – Emergency preparedness

Emergency preparedness (PDF, 1MB)

Section 11 – Glossary

Glossary (PDF, 1MB)

Measles

Measles cases have been increasing in Minnesota, nationally and internationally. Measles is a serious disease that spreads easily and can lead to hospitalization and death.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is safe, effective, and widely available. Find providers for the MMR vaccine.

Measles fact sheets

Hennepin County HIV outbreak response

Hennepin County HIV outbreak

In February 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) declared an HIV outbreak in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. The outbreak is concentrated among people who inject drugs, most of whom are experiencing homelessness or are unstably housed.

Since March 2020, Hennepin County has been responding to the outbreak. Hennepin County continues to work in the community, conducting outreach to homeless encampments, including testing and treatment, providing case management, HIV treatment, housing assistance and PrEP. The county collaborates with the Minnesota Department of Health and community prevention and care partners to coordinate response efforts.

Case characteristics for the HIV outbreak (PDF, 1MB)

HIV outbreak in persons who inject drugs (PWID): Supplement to MDH health advisory

Related pages

Contact

Hennepin County Epidemiology

M–F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.