Infectious disease outbreaks should be reported to UKHSA on 0300 3038162
Examples of infectious diseases and national guidance on dealing with these can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/infectious-diseases-detailed-information
Good hygiene and infection control are vital in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene is one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infections, especially those that cause diarrhoea or vomiting and respiratory infections.
Top tips for effective handwashing:
- Use liquid soap, warm water, and paper towels.
- Don’t use bars of soap.
- Use alcohol hand gel if hands are not visibly dirty. Alcohol hand gel is not effective against organisms that cause gastroenteritis, such as norovirus.
- Clean your hands after using the toilet, before eating or handling food, after playtime and after touching animals.
- Cover cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing.
Read useful advice on:
- The best way to wash your hands
- Care Homes: Infection prevention and control
- Schools and Childcare: Preventing and controlling infections
- Infection Prevention and Control - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Antibiotic resistance: what is it and what can we do about it?
- As bacteria continue to develop resistance to antibiotics, we have fewer effective treatments for infections.
- To find out more about antibiotic resistance, see
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antibiotics/antibiotic-antimicrobial-resistance/
Watch this video to find out what happened when schools and early years in Torbay used a light box machine to see how clean their hands are. This was filmed during Antimicrobial Resistance Week in November 2024.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)
See our Sexual Health page.