School and ECE Program Liaisons

MCDH expects that each school and ECE Program identify a liaison and a back-up liaison to provide efficient communication between the schools and MCDH. Schools must complete the School Liaison Survey to notify MCDH of these individuals. Each school is expected to keep their liaison updated throughout the school year using the above electronic form.

Online Outbreak Reporting and Absenteeism Surveillance

School and ECE Programs can use our online Outbreak Reporting and Absenteeism Surveillance System to report outbreaks and submit absenteeism surveillance to MCDH. This is a secure, web based system for schools and ECE programs to:

1. Report suspect outbreaks and/or outbreak related information to the MCDH. The following outbreaks can be reported via this form:

• Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE)
• Group A Strep
• General Illness
• COVID-19 (*See updated outbreak definition via the reporting and absenteeism link above)

General illness outbreaks include any unusual increase in clusters of reported or observed illness with unknown origin or similar symptoms within a core group of individuals. Clusters of illness and unusual increases in illness are reportable to the McHenry County Department of Health, even for conditions that are not reportable on their own.

2. Report weekly absenteeism surveillance. School absenteeism surveillance involves the tracking of absences due to respiratory illness, gastrointestinal illness, and total absences. Our Epidemiology Program and Communicable Disease staff monitor this information to determine the spread of respiratory conditions in our schools, ECE programs, and the county and identify acute gastro enteritis (AGE) outbreaks in schools.

• 2024 Reportable Infectious Diseases
• Communicable Disease Reference Chart for Schools

Illinois State Board of Education

• School Health Issues

Health Topics

• Rash/Skin Conditions
• Vector-borne
• Gastrointestinal and Enteric Illnesses 
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases

Posters

• Clean Hands Save Lives poster [PDF]
• Coughing poster - Cover your Cough! (English)
• Coughing poster - Cover your Cough! (Spanish)

Flu Resources

• Everyday Preventive Actions Can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu
• Influenza (Flu) – Schools , Businesses and Travelers
• Guidance for School Administrators to Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in K-12 Schools
• How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu [PDF]
• Free Resources

Cleaning & Sanitizing for Schools

• Quick Reference: Environmental Cleaning for School Nurses [PDF]
• EPA's registered disinfectants (including sterilizers, tuberculocides, and antimicrobial products against certain human public health bacteria and

2024 School Health Professionals Symposium Presentations

- Asthma and Caring for those with Asthma in School [PDF]

- Caring for the Whole Person at School [PDF]

- School Nurse Emergency Course [PDF]

- SNAC Updates [PDF]

- Vaping [PDF]