Gastroenteritis and acute respiratory illness outbreaks in early childhood education and care
This page has information for early childhood education and care (ECEC) centre managers to help manage gastroenteritis and acute illness outbreaks.
Germs spread easily between kids. Kids play together, put things in their mouths, and sometimes forget to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
Gastroenteritis, or gastro, is a common infection that causes vomiting and/or diarrhoea. It is usually a mild illness caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Viral gastroenteritis is the most common cause of gastro outbreaks in early childhood education and care settings.
Read more about viral gastroenteritis.
Acute respiratory infections (ARI) can affect the nose, throat, airways and lungs. Mild symptoms include runny or blocked nose, cough, sore throat, sore ears and fever. Severe symptoms include difficulties breathing or noisy breathing. Many viruses cause acute respiratory illness in young children.
Read more about acute respiratory infections in children.
An outbreak of these illnesses can occur when more than one child or staff member has the same illness or similar symptoms.
There are easy things we can do to reduce the spread of all germs and prevent outbreaks.
Stopping the spread of infection
Discourage people from attending the centre if they are unwell with symptoms of gastroenteritis or acute respiratory illness.
Who should stay away
Children, educators, or other staff with gastroenteritis symptoms should not come to the centre until 48 hours has passed since their last loose bowel motion or vomit.
Anyone with acute respiratory symptoms should stay away until they are well.
Sick siblings should not come to the centre during drop off or pick up.
It is important that this information is clearly communicated with families, carers, and staff.
Recording details of unwell people
When a staff member or child is unwell you should record their details.
You can use:
- your own organisation's illness register
- or the gastroenteritis line list for early childhood education and care centres [DOC 65 KB].
When and how to report outbreaks
Gastro outbreaks
You must report to ACT Health if you have 2 or more cases of gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting) among children or staff in 24 hours.
Report a gastro outbreak online using the early childhood education and care infectious disease notification form.
Acute respiratory illness outbreaks
You are not required to notify of any outbreaks of respiratory illness in your childcare service.
Other illnesses
There are other conditions that ECECs are also required to tell ACT Health about. Most of them are uncommon and should be reported by a healthcare provider. If a notification has already been made to ACT Health by healthcare providers there is no requirement for ECEC providers to make an additional notification.
Reportable conditions to be aware of in early childcare education and care settings include:
If you are concerned that a child has a notifiable condition ACT Health has not been told, report the illness through the early childhood education and care infectious disease notification form.
More information about your reporting requirements under the Public Health Act 1997 and what illnesses are notifiable can be found on the ACT Legislation Register
Infection prevention and control
Infection prevention and control practices can reduce the spread of viruses year round.
Infection prevention and control practices include:
- effective hand hygiene
- exclusion of unwell children and staff
- use of personal protective equipment (such as a plastic apron over staff clothing during nappy changes)
- increased environmental cleaning.
Make sure appropriate infection prevention and control practices are adhered to by parents, carers and staff.
For advice about infection prevention and control call ACT Health on 02 5124 9213.
More information
For more information on minimising the spread of disease, go to National Health and Medical Research Council – Staying healthy: Preventing infection diseases in early childhood education and care services.
Posters for childcare centres
Download the STOP - gastro outbreak sign [PDF 212 KB].