Back-to-school bugs: How to reduce spread of infectious diseases

As infections often spike at the start of the year when school reopens, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) has stressed that preventive measures are vital to significantly reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.

- Joyce Teo Senior Health Correspondent

In early 2025, polyclinics here handled more acute respiratory infection cases, with the average daily number of cases rising to 3,392 in the week of Jan 26 to Feb 1, from 2,470 some two months earlier, it noted.

Dr Zubaidah Said, director of the CDA’s Air and Droplet Borne Division, highlighted the importance of masks, hand hygiene and vaccinations in preventing the spread of diseases, in a recent interview with The Straits Times, Shin Min Daily News and Berita Harian.

The agency said that despite these recommendations, some parents continue to focus on incorrect measures due to persisting misconceptions. Here are some common misconceptions and what you should do instead.

MISCONCEPTION: Using a sanitiser will get rid of all the germs on the hands.

TRUTH: Natural, alcohol-free sanitisers are not effective. Research has shown that you need a hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol to kill a wide range of bacteria and viruses and protect you from illness. The higher the alcohol content, the more effective it is, said Dr Zubaidah.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Use wipes with at least 60 per cent alcohol, and teach children the importance of proper and frequent hand-washing. It is recommended to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.