Schools, parents and children are reminded to be well prepared for the prevention of infectious diseases on campus, as spring is the season with high incidence of infectious diseases, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Saturday.
Parents should prepare sufficient personal protective equipment for their children and keep an eye on their children’s health condition on a daily basis, said Tang Xiujuan, an expert with the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The most common infectious diseases on campus this spring include COVID-19, norovirus, flu, chicken pox and mumps, according to Tang.
Students are vulnerable to respiratory infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, flu, chicken pox and mumps. Once respiratory infectious disease cases occur in schools, it is extremely prone to cause cluster infections via daily learning and other activities, Tang said.
Tang reminds that classrooms should be kept well ventilated and regular disinfection should be carried out on campus. Parents should tell their children to pay attention to personal hygiene, such as washing hands, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with hands, and to cover mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing.
If children appear to have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, muscular and joint pain, frequent sore throat and coughs, they should see a doctor in time. Also, they should reduce contact with other children and be kept off school until they get well.
Parents should also pay attention to intestinal infectious diseases caused by norovirus. Tang suggests that children should be reminded to wash hands before meals and after using the toilet and avoid drinking tap water. If someone vomits, classmates should stay away from the vomit and contaminated objects immediately.
Food in schools’ canteens should be cooked thoroughly, especially seafood like oysters. Vegetables should be washed thoroughly.
Vaccine inoculation is the most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications. In addition to teaching knowledge about infectious disease prevention, parents should help kids cultivate good hygiene habits, said Tang.