School closures and student exclusion

Medical evidence on the spread of influenza shows transmission in schools is a significant factor in the disease’s spread. Once influenza is in the school environment it can spread quickly, impacting families and the local community.

School policies continue to be important in the PROTECT phase [link], however, regional or widespread closure of schools is not considered a proportionate nor appropriate intervention for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 where disease is ‘mild in most’. Closure of educational facilities, boarding schools and child care centres is, in general, not recommended.

In the PROTECT phase:


    Children with flu-like symptoms should not attend school.

    If a child becomes sick with flu-like symptoms at school they should be sent home.

    School exclusion for children returning from particular countries overseas is not applicable.


States and territories have the flexibility to close single schools or classrooms following identification of a case (confirmed through testing), if this was considered a useful measure to prevent an outbreak in the school. This measure is most relevant in areas without recorded community transmission – person-to-person transmission outside household or Health Care settings, with no epidemiological link to a probable or confirmed case.


More detail on www.healthemergency.gov.au:






For up to date information visit www.healthemergency.gov.au

Pandemic Hotline 180 2007