Ngā whanonga hauora Healthy habits to stop the spread of illnesses

Immunisation is a way of preventing infectious diseases. Immunisations are offered to pēpi (babies), tamariki (children) and adults to protect against serious and preventable diseases.

Vaccines given in Aotearoa New Zealand (internal link)

It is important to make sure you are up to date with your immunisations. Check with your healthcare provider, doctor or nurse to see if you have had all your immunisations.

Catching up on missed immunisations (internal link)

The National Immunisation Schedule has a list of free immunisations and the ages at which they are recommended.

National Immunisation Schedule (internal link)

Washing or sanitising your hands is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself and others safe. By keeping your hands clean, you can prevent the spread of germs and viruses. This is especially important if you are visiting people at higher risk. 

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Then dry your hands completely.

Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is also effective at killing germs and viruses. If using hand sanitiser, make sure you use enough product to cover your hands, rub it in and allow it to dry.

If your hands are clean, avoid touching your face, including your eyes, nose or mouth.

When to wash your hands

It is important to wash your hands before:

• eating or preparing food
• dressing a wound
• giving medicine
• putting in contact lenses.

Also wash your hands after:

• you have been in a public place
• sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose, or wiping another person's nose
• gardening or playing outside
• having contact with animals
• going to the toilet or changing nappies
• looking after sick people
• being in contact with blood or other bodily fluids
• touching something that could be contaminated such as rubbish, animal litter tray, cleaning cloths.

It is important to stay at home if you are unwell to stop the spread of the infection to others. 

Keep your distance from other members of your household to stop them getting ill as well. 

An information sheet on common infectious diseases, how they are spread, and signs and symptoms is available on the HealthEd website

Infectious diseases — HealthEd (external link)

You can find information about common viruses and infections in our Conditions and treatments section.

Conditions and treatments (internal link)

If someone in your home is unwell 

If someone you live with in your home gets sick, it is a good idea for them to stay in 1 room or area until they are well.

Wear a mask if you need to care for them, and if possible, get them to wear a mask while they are unwell.

If you have an unwell child

Read more about common childhood illnesses on the KidsHealth website. 

KidsHealth (external link)

Face masks can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and flu. Masks are a way we can protect ourselves and others.

It is recommended you wear a face mask when visiting healthcare services and they are also encouraged to be worn when in closed, crowded and confined spaces, with poor ventilation.

A well–fitting face mask can help stop particles from spreading or being breathed in when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. Non-valved respirator-type masks such as P2/N95, KN95 or FFP2 masks also help prevent you from breathing in viruses.

Face masks (internal link)

Some infectious diseases can be transferred in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Examples include flu, measles and chicken pox.

If you are unwell, avoid close contact with other people. Cover your coughs and sneezes to stop spreading the illness to other people.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze – then put the tissue in a bin.
• If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Clean your hands after you cover a cough or sneeze.
  
  
• Coughs — Ministry of Health (external link)
• Cough in children — KidsHealth (external link)

Good ventilation helps remove respiratory virus particles in the air. It's recommended that you let in fresh air every day, including after someone visits your home, shop or office.

If you can, partly open a window about 5cm for most of the day. Or open windows for at least 15 minutes as often as possible, if it is safe to do so.

If your windows do not open, or you cannot open them safely, and you have a ventilation system, check if your ventilation system filters (cleans) the air.

Ventilation (internal link)

Some infectious diseases and illnesses can be spread by touching a surface or object that has been contaminated by an infected person.

Regularly cleaning household surfaces that are frequently touched will help reduce the spread of infections. Some examples of frequently used surfaces include tables, bench tops, door handles, light switches, toys and taps.

Clean surfaces with hot soapy water or your normal household cleaning product. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on correct product use.

Where possible, use disposable cloths or paper towels to clean surfaces. Reusable cloths should be disinfected and then dried after use, as bacteria and viruses can still survive on damp cloths.