Featured Article
October 7, 2009
How long should a person with influenza-like illness stay home
Children |
Stay Home for..... |
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K-12 School
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| School-aged children | 24 hours after fever is gone without fever-reducing medication | |
| School-aged child in a program or school for medically fragile students | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| School-aged child in a program or school for pregnant/parenting teems | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Pre-K: Children and Early Childhood Education Programs | ||
| Child in childcare program, early childhood education program, or preschool | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Child in K-12 schools who attend a childcare program, early childhood education program or preschool | Check with the childcare or program director, exclusion period will depend on ability of the program to separate pre-K from school-aged children. For the time they are in K-12 school, K-12 exclusion (above) would apply. | |
Higher Education (colleges/universities) |
Stay Home for ..... |
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| Students enrolled in colleges/universities (if the student is in a health professions program see exclusion for healthcare workers) | 24 hours after fever is gone without fever-reducing medication. | |
Adults |
Stay home for ..... |
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| Work in K-12 education programs and schools for medically fragile students | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Work in K-12 education programs and schools for pregnant/parenting teens | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Work in childcare, or early childhood education, or pre-schools with pre-K children | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Work in childcare, early childhood education or preschools with children 5 years and older | Check with their childcare or program director, exclusion period will depend on the ability of the program to separate pre-K children from school-aged children | |
| Work in a heathcare facility*** | 7 days after symptoms began, or 24 hours after resolution of acute symptoms**, which ever is longer | |
| Not in the categories listed above | 24 hours after fever is gone without fever-reducing medication |
*This table reflects MDH recommendations as of September 18, 2009. Facility or institutional policy may vary.
**A person could return to regular activities if they have lingering symptoms like a cough as long as the exclusion period has otherwise been met (a cough that persists after other symptoms are gone is not an acute symptom).
***People who work in healthcare settings should check with their employer's policy to determine exclusion based on patient contact.
Minnesota Department of Health Website: www.health.state.mn.us