Information about when students are excluded from school

Conditions

Exclusion of cases

Exclusion of contacts

1

Chickenpox

Exclude until all blisters have dried.  This is usually at least 5 days after the rash appears in unimmunised children, but may be less in previously immunised children

Any child with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded for their own protection.  Otherwise not excluded

2

Conjunctivitis

Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased

Not excluded

3

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

4

Diarrhoeal illness

Exclude until there has not been vomiting or a loose bowel motion for 24 hours

Not excluded

5

Diphtheria

Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received following at least two negative throat swabs, the first not less than 24 hours after finishing a course of antibiotics and the other 48 hours later

Exclude family/household contacts until cleared to return by the Chief Health Officer

6

Glandular fever
(Epstein-Barr Virus infection)

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

7

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease

Exclude until all blisters have dried

Not excluded

8

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Exclude until 48 hours after initiation of effective therapy

Not excluded

9

Hepatitis A

Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received, but not before 7 days after the onset of jaundice or illness

Not excluded

10

Hepatitis B

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

11

Hepatitis C

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

12

Herpes (cold sores)

Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practices should be excluded while the lesion is weeping.  Lesions to be covered by dressing, where possible

Not excluded

13

Human immuno-deficiency virus infection (HIV)

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

14

Impetigo

Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight dressing

Not excluded

15

Influenza and influenza like illnesses

Exclude until well

Not excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer

16

Leprosy

Exclude until approval to return has been given by the Chief Health Officer

Not excluded

17

Measles

Exclude for at least 4 days after onset of rash

Immunised contacts not excluded. Unimmunised contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the first day of appearance of rash in the last case. If unimmunised contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure with any infectious case, or received Normal Human Immunoglobulin (NHIG) within 144 hours of exposure of any infectious case, they may return to the facility

18

Meningitis (bacterial other than meningococcal meningitis)

Exclude until well

Not excluded

19

Meningococcal infection

Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completed

Not excluded if receiving carrier eradication therapy

20

Mumps

Exclude for 5 days or until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner)

Not excluded

21

Molluscum contagiosum

Exclusion is not necessary

Not excluded

22

Pertussis (Whooping cough)

Exclude the child for 21 days after the onset of cough or until they have completed 5 days of a course of antibiotic treatment

Contacts aged less than 7 years in the same room as the case who have not received three effective doses of pertussis vaccine should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case, or until they have taken 5 days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment

23

Poliovirus infection

Exclude for at least 14 days from onset.  Re admit after receiving medical certificate of recovery

Not excluded

24

Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (head lice)

Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commenced

Not excluded

25

Rubella (German measles)

Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of rash

Not excluded

26

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is produced

Not excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer

27

Shiga toxin or Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC or VTEC)

Exclude if required by the Chief Health Officer and only for the period specified by the Chief Health Officer

Not excluded

28

Streptococcal infection
(including scarlet fever)

Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and the child feels well

Not excluded

29

Tuberculosis (excluding latent tuberculosis)

Exclude until receipt of a medical certificate from the treating physician stating that the child is not considered to be infectious

Not excluded

30

Typhoid fever (including paratyphoid fever)

Exclude until approval to return has been given by the Chief Health Officer

Not excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer

Explanatory notes:

  • Diarrhoeal illness includes instances where certain pathogens are identified including Amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica), Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and intestinal worms, but is not limited to infection with these pathogens.
  • ‘Medical certificate’ means a certificate of a registered medical practitioner.
  • Exclusion of cases and contacts is not necessary for latent tuberculosis.