Communicable Disease – School Exclusion Table for Primary Schools

Children suffering from infection diseases shall be excluded for the periods described in the
The minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s services for infectious diseases cases and contacts (Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019, Schedule 7) following table.

ConditionsExclusion of casesExclusion of contacts
ChickenpoxExclude 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 childrenAny child with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded for their own protection. Otherwise not excluded
ConjunctivitisExclude until discharge from eyes has ceasedNot excluded
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infectionExclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
Diarrhoeal illnessIn an outbreak of gastroenteritis, exclude until there has not been vomiting or a loose bowel motion for 48 hours, and for all other diarrhoeal illnesses exclude until there has not been vomiting or a lose bowel motion for 24 hoursNot excluded
DiphtheriaExclude 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 laterExclude family/household contacts until cleared to return by the Chief Health Officer
Glandular fever
(Epstein-Barr Virus infection)
Exclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
Hand, Foot and Mouth diseaseExclude until all blisters have driedNot excluded
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)Exclude until 48 hours after initiation of effective therapyNot excluded
Hepatitis AExclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received, but not before 7 days after the onset of jaundice or illnessNot excluded
Hepatitis BExclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
Hepatitis CExclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
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 possibleNot excluded
Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)Exclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
ImpetigoExclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight dressingNot excluded
Influenza and influenza like illnessesExclude until wellNot excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer
LeprosyExclude until approval to return has been given by the Chief Health OfficerNot excluded
MeaslesExclude for at least 4 days after onset of rashImmunised 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
Meningitis (bacterial other than meningococcal meningitis)Exclude until wellNot excluded
Meningococcal infectionExclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completedNot excluded if receiving carrier eradication therapy
MumpsExclude for 5 days or until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner)Not excluded
Molluscum contagiosumExclusion is not necessaryNot excluded
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 treatmentContacts 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
Poliovirus infectionExclude for at least 14 days from onset. Re admit after receiving medical certificate of recoveryNot excluded
Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (head lice)Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment has commencedNot excluded
Rubella (German measles)Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of rashNot excluded
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is producedNot excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer
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 OfficerNot excluded
Streptococcal infection
(including scarlet fever)
Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and the child feels wellNot excluded
Tuberculosis (excluding latent tuberculosis)Exclude until receipt of a medical certificate from the treating physician stating that the child is not considered to be infectiousNot excluded
Typhoid fever (including paratyphoid fever)Exclude until approval to return has been given by the Chief Health OfficerNot excluded unless considered necessary by the Chief Health Officer