Communicable Diseases

OSSD works cooperatively with the Mississippi Health Department to prevent, control, and contain communicable diseases in schools. Students are expected to be in compliance with the required immunization schedule. The building principal is required under Section §41-23-37 to exclude students from school attendance who are out of compliance with the immunizations required by this act.  School personnel cooperates with public health personnel in completing and coordinating all immunization data, waivers, and exclusions, including the necessary Immunization Assessment Program Forms, to provide for preventable communicable disease control.

 

The superintendent has the authority and obligation under the Mississippi State Board of Health Rules and Regulations Governing Reportable Diseases to exclude students or staff members from school when reliable evidence or information from a qualified source confirms his/her having a communicable disease or infection that is known to be spread by a form of casual contact and is considered a health threat to the school population. Such a student or staff member shall be excluded unless his physician approves school attendance or the condition is no longer considered contagious.

 

When reliable evidence or information from a qualified source confirms that a student/staff member's illness is known not to be spread by casual contact (i.e., HIV infection, Hepatitis B, and other like diseases), the decision as to whether the affected person will remain in the school setting will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by a review panel to ensure due process. Mandatory screening for communicable diseases that are known not to be spread by casual contact is not warranted as a condition for school entry or for employment or continued employment.

 

Irrespective of disease presence, routine procedures shall be used and adequate sanitation facilities will be available for handling blood or other body fluids within the school setting or school buses. School personnel will be trained in the proper procedures for handling blood and body fluids, and these procedures will be strictly adhered to by all school personnel.

 

All persons privileged with any medical information that pertains to students or staff members shall be required to treat all proceedings, discussions, and documents as confidential information.  

 

Instruction on the principle modes by which communicable diseases are spread and the best methods for the restriction and prevention of these diseases is taught to students by their teachers and the school nurse. Any student having evidence of a significant communicable disease must remain out of school until the disease is no longer a threat to others.

 

Common communicable diseases as listed below will automatically result in exclusion from school and school-related activities for the designated period of time shown below. For these or other communicable diseases, the principal may require a written note from the student's family doctor or public health department for a student's return to school after having a communicable disease.
 

Disease	Exclusion from School
Chicken Pox	Until no new blisters are present
German Measles	4 days after onset of rash
Red Measles	7-1- days after onset of rash
Mumps	9 days after glands swell
Hepatitis	Clearance by physician
Mononucleosis	Clearance by physician
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)	Until proper treatment
Impetigo	Until proper treatment
Pediculosis (Lice)	Until proper treatment
Ringworm	Until proper treatment
Scabies	Until proper treatment

When A Communicable Disease Is Suspected

• Students with fever will not be admitted until the fever subsides (See FEVER),
• Students with diarrhea will not be readmitted until diarrhea subsides (See DIARRHEAL DISEASES) 
• Students with conjunctivitis (pink eye), bacterial meningitis, or tuberculosis will not be readmitted without a note from a health care worker

Parents will be informed if their child has been exposed to a communicable disease that requires exclusion. The notification will include the signs and symptoms of the disease so that immediate medical advice and treatment can be sought. If it is necessary for a student to leave school because of an illness or injury, the student must be signed out and escorted by the parent/guardian, or a designee, if the parent or guardian is unavailable.