UW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), in coordination with local and state public health agencies, works to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the UW community, and responds to outbreaks.
Avian influenza
Read about recent avian influenza activity, ways to stay healthy, and how to report dead or sick wildlife.
Bloodborne pathogens
The UW Bloodborne Pathogens Program serves to protect University personnel from exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials.
Foodborne illness
If you believe you became sick from eating at a University food establishment, please complete an online Foodborne Illness Report/Complaint form.
Mpox
Learn about the signs and symptoms of mpox, and ways to reduce your risk of getting infected.
Respiratory illnesses
Review the University-wide guidance on what to do if you have symptoms or test positive.
Guidance for sick individuals
University personnel and students who have (or suspect they have) a communicable disease should take action to minimize the risk of exposure to others including staying home when sick and consulting a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Follow the steps in the UW Public Health Flowchart if you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, or were exposed to someone with a respiratory illness, or test positive. Personnel with a condition other than a respiratory illness should follow guidance provided by their healthcare provider.
Depending on the communicable disease and an individual’s employment duties, UW personnel may be given specific instructions by their local public health contact, their healthcare provider, or the UW Employee Health Center regarding returning to work.
Reporting requirements
Healthcare providers (including those in the UW Employee Health Center and Husky Health) may be legally required to notify public health authorities of suspected or confirmed cases of specific diseases or conditions. These are referred to as notifiable conditions.
University personnel and students may be required to provide information to the University if a healthcare provider confirms or suspects they have a notifiable condition.
If supervisors have reason to believe their workforce is experiencing an outbreak of the same illness (as a guide, more than 10% of unit personnel are out sick and/or have tested positive), contact EH&S for assistance.
If you are UW personnel and believe your illness was due to a workplace exposure, please submit an OARS incident report.
Assistance
UW Human Resources provides resources for staff, faculty and academic personnel regarding time away from work; talk with your Human Resources consultant about issues pertaining to your work area. Guidance for seeking a disability accommodation is available on the UW Human Resources website.
Cleaning
Regular cleaning of surfaces at school, work and home can reduce infection risk from harmful germs such as viruses and bacteria. The most reliable way to prevent infection from surfaces is to regularly wash hands with soap and water.
The end UW Communicable Disease Cleaning Protocol summarizes the recommended cleaning and disinfection guidelines, frequencies, and roles/responsibilities for various University spaces. University health care settings and other facilities (e.g., food service, youth and childcare settings) may additional regulatory requirements or procedures for surface cleaning and disinfection.
Vaccinations
Being up-to-date on vaccinations is strongly encouraged for all UW personnel and students.
Check the CDC's schedule of recommended vaccinations.
Respiratory viruses
Seasonal respiratory virus vaccinations, including flu, RSV, and COVID-19 may be available through Whole U or at your local pharmacy or healthcare provider.
Additional requirements
Personnel working in specific workplaces or doing certain job tasks may have additional vaccine recommendations or requirements. This includes personnel conducting specific research activities or working in healthcare settings.
Students working or training in UW Medicine clinical or other settings, including students participating in the Health Sciences Immunization Program (HSIP), follow HSIP’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
UW Medicine medical facility personnel are required to follow the UW Medicine vaccination policy.
During an outbreak
When a communicable disease outbreak occurs in the University community, UW Environmental Health & Safety provides public health guidance to University units, departments, personnel, and students to help protect themselves and others.
We work closely with the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, University units, public health agencies (federal, state, and local), and others to develop a public health response plan, which may include information and resources for the University community.
Information and resources include public health requirements and recommendations that align with guidance issued by federal, state, and local public health agencies, and are tailored to the University academic and work environments affected by the outbreak.
UW Medicine responds to communicable disease outbreaks among UW Medicine employees.
The identity of individuals who are suspected or confirmed to have a communicable disease is protected; it is disclosed only on a need-to-know basis to those involved in the public health response in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policy.
- Personnel are not required to share personal medical or health information, including a diagnosis, with their supervisor.
- Students are not required to share personal medical or health information, including a diagnosis, with their instructor(s).
During an outbreak, EH&S works closely with University units and departments to identify individuals and groups who may have been exposed while at a University location. Individuals and groups who receive a notification of potential exposure to a communicable disease are provided with information about the disease and measures to prevent further spread.
The identity of an individual who is suspected or confirmed to have a communicable disease is not disclosed in broad communications, nor to individuals and groups who receive an exposure notification.
The University will broadly inform personnel and students about communicable diseases in the UW community as appropriate.
Responsibilities
The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases is responsible for:
- Advising the University president, provost, deans, directors, chancellors, and other leadership representatives on trends, risks, and appropriate responses;
- Guiding the University’s preparation and response activities related to communicable diseases’
- Disseminating information to the campus community about potential risks, along with health and safety measures to reduce risk;
- Collaborating to promote the health and wellness of UW students, employees, and visitors; and
- Coordinating with local and state public health officials and agencies.
Read the Committee Charter for more information.
- Develop University-wide communicable illness policies, plans, safety training, and guidance documents.
- Review, evaluate, and communicate any new or revised federal, state, and local requirements, and update policies and procedures accordingly.
- Facilitate and administer the University’s Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD).
- Provide consultation and assist units and personnel with health and safety measures.
- Respond to health and safety concerns and suspected communicable disease outbreaks.
- Maintain the OSHA 300 Log requirements for tracking cases of reported workplace transmission.
- Follow all elements of this Health and Safety Plan and any unit or site-specific requirements.
- Follow the UW health and safety guidance if you have symptoms or test positive for a communicable disease.
- Follow all health and safety requirements in the clinical/healthcare locations and scenarios where it applies.
- Report safety concerns to a supervisor or to EH&S.
Personnel includes staff, faculty and other academic personnel, students in the workplace, and student employees as defined in UW Administrative Policy Statement 40.1.
UW students are responsible for following public health guidance, policies, and plans to prevent the spread of disease.
Students who live in on-campus University housing are responsible for isolating or staying in quarantine if directed by the University or a healthcare provider.
Students enrolled in UW health science programs that require clinical or practicum training to complete their degree are responsible for meeting Health Science Immunization Program (HSIP) requirements.
- Disseminate public health guidance provided by the University.
- Ensure related policies and safety plans are followed by personnel.
- Report suspected or confirmed workplace transmission to EH&S.
- Address or escalate safety concerns reported by personnel.
More information
Communicable diseases are illnesses that can spread to a person from
- Another person; or
- An animal; or
- A contaminated surface.
Communicable diseases can be spread through direct contact with a sick person, their respiratory droplets (e.g., sneezing or coughing) or other body fluids.
Communicable diseases may also come from consuming contaminated food or water, or by indirect contact with animals or pests (e.g., mosquitoes, fleas, mice).
Frequently asked questions
Individuals with a communicable disease (and those who may have been exposed) may be excluded from attending work or class for a specified period.
Supervisors and instructors are discouraged from requesting a doctor’s note, test result, or proof of medical clearance for an individual to return to work or class.
It depends.
UW personnel who believe their COVID-19 illness was a result of a workplace exposure are required to submit an incident report (OARS). Learn more about incident reporting.
Other individuals in the UW community (e.g., students, volunteers, vendors, visitors) who test positive for COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to let their close contacts know about their positive test; however, they are not required to report it to their supervisor, instructor, or the University.
Definitions
An infectious disease that can be transmitted from a person, animal, or object to a person by direct or indirect means including, but not limited to, transmission through an intermediate host or vector, food, water, or air
A condition identified in Table HC-1 of Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 246-101-101, Table Lab-1 of WAC 246-101-201, or Table Agriculture-1 of WAC 246-101-805, a case of which requires notification to public health authorities; or a condition designated by the local health officer as notifiable within their jurisdiction under WAC 246-101-505 (4)(d); notifiable condition does not include provisional conditions as defined under WAC 246-101-015.
The occurrence of a condition in an area over a given period of time in excess of the expected number of occurrences including, but not limited to, foodborne disease, waterborne disease, and health care-associated infection