Outbreak management

Early reporting of suspected outbreaks in a care home, nursery or school is essential for effective management.

If two or more people are displaying symptoms of the same condition; please contact Public Health England on 0344 225 0562 and select option 2 for Cumbria and Lancashire.

For the management of diarrhoea and vomiting in education and care settings please refer to the outbreak guidance (PDF 783 KB) issued by Public Health England.

There are useful printable resources included in this document:

  • Action check list for care home manager
  • Resident and staff outbreak log sheet
  • Visitor outbreak notice poster
  • Hand wash notice poster
  • Cleaning equipment colour coding

For the management of influenza, please refer to the PHE flu resource pack for care homes (PDF 2MB).

Headteachers and managers should contact PHE as soon as they suspect an outbreak to discuss the situation and agree if any actions are needed. It is useful to have the information listed below available before this discussion as it will help to inform the size and nature of the outbreak:

  • total numbers affected (staff and children)
  • symptoms
  • date(s) when symptoms started
  • number of classes affected

For further information about norovirus, scabies, influenza and other infections; please refer to the NHS Choices website.