Health - Infectious Diseases

All medical practitioners have a duty to notify Southwark's food health and safety unit of any confirmed or suspected instances of infectious disease or food poisoning within the borough. We will then ensure that appropriate control measures are taken to control the spread of disease and protect public health.

We can take action to exclude the person infected from working with food or vulnerable groups until they are no longer infective. We will also provide information and advice on controlling the spread of the illness. Your GP will give specific advice about the health of the patient, we will give advice on protecting the community.

As well as advice on food poisoning, we also give advice on other infectious diseases prevalent in our community and infectious childhood diseases.

Click the links below to download infectious disease advice leaflets in either PDF or word format.

Malaria
Word format of Malaria leaflet.
PDF format of Malaria leaflet.

Tuberculosis
Word format of Tuberculosis leaflet.
PDF format of Tuberculosis leaflet.

Infectious childhood diseases

Infectious diseases are common among young children as their immunity levels take time to develop. Many of the common childhood diseases are highly infectious and can spread rapidly in places where children are in close contact with each other, such as in schools and nurseries.

Children can be protected by routine immunisation against many of the most severe infectious diseases.

There are simple steps that can be taken to protect your children against these infections that include

Immunisation
Treatment of cases
Keeping the infected child away from other children
Practising good personal hygiene

If you suspect your child is ill, it is important that you visit your GP who may take samples to confirm the illness. If your child's GP confirms that your child has an infectious disease, Southwark's Food Health and Safety Unit will be notified. We may contact you to offer advice and information particularly on controlling the spread of the illness.

You can find out more about infectious diseases below.

Chickenpox
Health Protectction Agency information on chickenpox

Mumps
Word format of Mumps leaflet.
PDF format of Mumps leaflet.

Ringworm
Word format of Ringworm leaflet.
PDF format of Ringworm Leaflet.

Rubella
Word format of Rubella leaflet.
PDF format of Rubella leaflet.

Scabies
Word format of Scabies leaflet.
PDF format of Scabies leaflet.

Scarlet Fever
Word format of Scarlet Fever leaflet.
PDF format of Scarlet Fever leaflet.

Threadworm
Word format of Threadworm leaflet.
PDF format of Threadworm leaflet.

Click the link below to download further guidance from the Health Promotion Agency concerning infectious disease. The leaflet is in PDF format.

Guidance on infection control in schools and other child care settings