From time to time, students contract an infectious disease that requires them to be isolated from other students to avoid the spread of diseases across the campus.
Infectious diseases are notifiable to Public Health England (PHE) and if you have an infectious disease, your GP will inform both PHE (and the UEA if you are living on campus – this is a university regulation).
Common infectious diseases which require quarantine include;
- Covid-19
- Chicken Pox
- Mumps
- German Measles (Rubella)
- Influenza (flu)
- Measles
- Mpox
- Mumps
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Tuberculosis (TB)
The incubation periods and periods of infection for the notifiable diseases are as follows;
| Illness | Incubation Period | Period of Infection |
| Covid-19 | 10 days | 10 days from point of infection |
| Chicken Pox | 14-21 days | 1-4 days before the rash develops and 5 days after |
| German Measles (rubella) | 13-21 days | 7 days before the onset of the rash and 6 days after |
| Influenza (flu) | 7 days max (2-4 days average) | 1 day before the onset of symptoms and 7 days after |
| Measles | 6-19 days | 3 days before the onset of the rash to 4 days after (very highly contagious in a non-immune population) |
| Monkey Pox | 14-21 days | The period from infection to the development of a rash |
| Mumps | 15-25 days | 10 days before the swelling and 5 days after |
| Pertussis (Whooping Cough) | – | 48 hours from commencing antibiotic treatment, or 21 days from onset of illness if no antibiotic treatment |
| Tuberculosis (TB) | Weeks to years | TB is only infectious if the organisms responsible are being coughed up (sputum positive) |
Living with someone who has an infectious disease?
Read our section on advice for close contacts and what this means for you.
UEA’s quarantine arrangements for students
Been diagnosed with an infectious disease? Read the University’s quarantine arrangements to help you whilst you are unwell.