Communicable Disease Awareness & Response

A communicable disease is any illness caused by an infectious agent — such as a virus, bacterium, or parasite — that can be passed from one person to another. The CDC identifies several primary transmission routes (CDC, 2024a):

• Direct contact: touching an infected person (e.g., Staphylococcus, influenza).
• Indirect contact: touching contaminated surfaces or objects (e.g., Norovirus, E. coli).
• Respiratory droplets: coughing or sneezing transmits droplets that others may inhale (e.g., COVID-19, tuberculosis, measles).
• Food and water: contaminated food or water sources (e.g., Salmonella, Hepatitis A).
• Vector-borne: bites from insects or animals (e.g., malaria, Lyme disease).

Understanding how diseases spread is the first step in protecting yourself and your campus community (CDC, 2021).

Not every illness is communicable, but certain symptoms warrant extra caution — particularly when they appear suddenly or are shared among people in close contact. Symptoms that may indicate a communicable illness include:

• Fever (temperature of 100.4°F / 38°C or higher)
• Persistent cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing
• Vomiting or diarrhea, especially if sudden in onset
• Unusual skin rashes or lesions
• Significant fatigue, body aches, or headache alongside other symptoms
• Discharge from the eyes or nose beyond typical seasonal allergies

If you are experiencing these symptoms, or notice them in someone around you, please do not wait — early action protects you and everyone else.

You do not need to be a medical professional to help. Taking a few simple steps can make a meaningful difference:

1. Encourage the person to step away from shared spaces. Gently suggest they return to their residence hall, office, or home and limit contact with others while symptomatic.
2. Advise them to call the Student Health Clinic before arriving in person. This allows health staff to prepare appropriately and avoids unnecessary exposure in the waiting area. The clinic can be reached at 440-775-8180.
3. If the person needs assistance, contact Campus Security at 440-775-8444, who can coordinate transport or additional support.
4. Limit your own exposure. Avoid close contact, shared items, or touching common surfaces near the person. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds afterward (CDC, 2024b).
5. Monitor yourself. If you had close contact with someone who is subsequently confirmed ill, watch for symptoms over the following days and contact the Health Clinic if any develop.

When a communicable illness has been identified on campus, coordinated action is essential. 

For Students

• Follow all guidance provided by the Student Health Clinic, including any isolation or quarantine recommendations.
• Notify your Resident Advisor (if in campus housing) and contact your academic dean or faculty directly if you need to miss class. Faculty are asked to be supportive — students should not be penalized for illness-related absences consistent with health guidance.
• Do not return to class, dining, or group activities until you have been cleared by health staff.

For Faculty and Staff

• If you are personally ill, notify your supervisor and contact Human Resources to discuss leave options. 
• If you become aware of an ill student or colleague, direct them to appropriate care — do not attempt to make a diagnosis or manage the situation independently.
• Respect confidentiality. The identity of individuals who are ill is protected under applicable privacy guidelines and should not be shared.

For Everyone

• Report confirmed or strongly suspected cases to the Student Health Clinic at 440-775-8180. The clinic will coordinate with campus administration and, where required, with Lorain County Public Health.
• Do not spread unverified information. Rely on official communications from Student Health and Campus Administration (ACHA, 2024).

Prevention is a shared responsibility. The following habits significantly reduce the risk of spreading communicable illnesses. According to the CDC, hand hygiene is among the single most important practices for reducing transmission of infection (CDC, 2024b), and the ACHA advises campuses to implement policies that support these behaviors without fear of repercussion (ACHA, 2024):

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after being in public spaces. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol (CDC, 2024b).
• Stay home when you are sick. If you have a fever, are vomiting, or have active symptoms, do not attend class or come to work.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow — not your hands.
• Keep your vaccinations current. The Student Health Clinic can advise on recommended immunizations. 
• Disinfect shared surfaces. Wipe down desks, keyboards, door handles, and shared equipment regularly. The CDC notes that bacteria can survive for days on common surfaces (CDC, 2022).
• Avoid sharing personal items — cups, utensils, lip balm, and similar items can transfer illness even when no symptoms are visible.

Student Health Clinic: 440-775-8180 — call before coming in

Campus Security (after hours / urgent): 440-775-8444

Lorain County Public Health: (440) 322-6367

Ohio Department of Health (ODH): (614) 466-3543

Emergency: 911

Remember, illness is not a reflection of character or carefulness. Anyone can contract a communicable disease, and those who are affected deserve support — not judgment. Our campus community is strongest when we look out for one another with compassion and respect. If you are concerned about someone’s wellbeing, the best thing you can do is connect them with care.

American College Health Association. (2024). COVID-19 guidance for academic year 2024–25. https://www.acha.org/news/covid-19-guidance-for-academic-year-2024-25/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Considerations for institutions of higher education. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/108282

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Core infection prevention and control practices for safe healthcare delivery in all settings. https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/core-practices/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a). Communicable diseases: How they spread. https://www.cdc.gov/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b). About handwashing. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html

Ohio Administrative Code §3701-3. (2015). Communicable disease rules. Ohio Department of Health.

Lorain County Public Health. (n.d.). Communicable diseases. https://www.loraincountyhealth.com/diseases