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Ready or not, back-to-school season is here, and kids will be bringing home more than homework. They’ll be carrying germs, too.

These viruses and bacteria will be agents that cause the common cold, influenza, norovirus, COVID-19, strep throat and more. There’s a reason why boxes of tissues and sanitizing wipes show up on most school supply lists.

As a with experience in , I have spent the past several years helping the public understand how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, especially the .

Here are some ways to minimize illness transmission from school to home.

COVID-19 cases likely to rise

In what health care providers call the , COVID-19 infections have been increasing throughout the summer of 2024. As of July 30, 2024, the number of COVID-19 infections has grown or is likely to .

Summer heat waves . And as continue driving this trend, the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to increase. This increase is expected to extend into the 2024-25 school year.

Currently, COVID-19 variants KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 are the . These variants are among the , nicknamed after the . These variants spread more easily from person to person and are able to .

These highly contagious COVID-19 strains, combined with the that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in March 2024, are likely to increase classroom disease transmission this coming school year. These apply to all respiratory viruses, not just COVID-19.

The new guidelines recommend that everyone stay home when they are sick but also suggest that a person can return to normal activities once symptoms are improving and the person is fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. While it is too early to know the transmission impact of these guidelines, they may lead to more people coming out of isolation while still infectious.

Children play a large role in transmitting the COVID-19 virus. when they are infected with COVID-19, leading to increased contact and spread.

A two-year study following over 160,000 households composed of both adults and children found that , including COVID-19, in these households were pediatric index cases, meaning they started with a child. Further, these pediatric index cases were reduced by 60% to 80% during school breaks. This data suggests that COVID-19 infections will continue to increase once the school year starts.

Good hygiene habits reduce the spread

In May 2024, the CDC also released , including COVID-19 and other common infectious diseases such as the flu, norovirus and strep throat. This on proper respiratory etiquette, hand-washing and vaccination.

Proper cough and sneeze hygiene is especially important to reduce transmission of diseases such as COVID-19 and the flu, which are commonly transmitted through . and create respiratory droplets that can be full of viruses or bacteria. Because these droplets are forcefully expelled, they can be spread around the environment and inhaled by another person.

That’s why it is important to with a tissue and then quickly dispose of the tissue. If a tissue is not available, your sleeve is the next best option. Whichever method you use, it is important to wash your hands afterward. In addition to encouraging proper respiratory etiquette, classrooms should also have .

The CDC’s classroom guidance also focuses on . are spread through touch. Classrooms have countless , including light switches, tabletops, shared supplies, doorknobs, sports equipment and toys.

Proper hand-washing can and about 20% of respiratory infections, such as colds and flu. The CDC also reports that proper hand-washing reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness by up to 57%.

Health care providers recommend COVID-19 and flu vaccines

Another important part of reducing classroom spread of infectious disease is keeping children . can reduce disease transmission rates 40% to 50% for and , , upward of and 100% for diseases such as .

For the past several years, the CDC has recommended receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccine . Despite this recommendation, there has been some in the uptake of both vaccines at the same time.

A 2024 Canadian study found that in co-administration, and another 17% were concerned about adverse reactions of receiving both vaccines together. However, several years of CDC data demonstrates the .

Moderna recently released on a new combination vaccine against both the flu and COVID-19. This combination vaccine, currently called mRNA-1083, has demonstrated when compared with individual vaccines for the flu or COVID-19. Moderna is expected to seek FDA approval soon. This combination vaccine may increase vaccine uptake because only one shot will be required instead of two.

Sick kids should stay home

The most important way to reduce the spread of germs in school is to follow the principle of . When sick kids go to school, they infect not only other students but teachers and staff too. and costs the U.S. billions of dollars each year.

Most schools and day care centers have . As a general rule, a child should stay home from school or day care if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea or if they are generally unwell and unable to fully participate in school.

Without the presence of a fever, it is OK to go to school with a cough or runny nose, as long as the child feels well enough to participate in class. , the child should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. When a student is returning to school with respiratory symptoms, consider having them take extra precautions, such as using a mask to protect others for the next five days.

If you have concerns about whether to send your child to school, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from your health care provider.

Healthy habits boost the immune system

Last but not least, focusing on healthy habits such as and , as well as eating , helps .

These actions should be practiced by family members of all ages.

Libby Richards receives funding from the American Nurses Foundation, ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Institutes of Health, and Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.