Communicable Diseases
& Blood Borne Pathogens
Communicable disease means an illness occurs that is often caused by an infectious agent or toxins. These infections can be transmitted directly by skin to skin contact or indirectly by breathing in particles or touching a contaminated surface. There are many different kinds of communicable diseases and they are considered to be contagious.
Because a school has a high concentration of people, it is necessary to take specific measures when the health or safety of the group is at risk. The school’s health services team must isolate and remove a student or staff member who has been ill or exposed to a communicable disease or highly transient pests.
When your child has a communicable disease, you should keep them home. According to school policy, any individual with a communicable disease is excluded from school in accordance with the recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health.
Some casual communicable diseases to look for are:
- Chicken Pox
- Common Cold
- Conjunctivitis (PinkEye)
- Fifth Disease
- Influenza
- Impetigo
- Ringworm
- Strep throat
As required by Federal Law, parents will be requested to have their child’s blood checked for HIV and HBV when the child has bled at school and students or staff members have been exposed to the blood. Any testing is subject to laws protecting patient confidentiality.
Non-casual contact communicable diseases include sexually transmitted diseases, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human immunodeficiency (HIV), Hepatitis B, and other diseases that may be specified by the State Board of Health.