Disease Outbreaks in Care: What to do next?
Introduction
When a “bug” starts doing the rounds, you feel it everywhere. A few more coughs in the corridor. A couple of Staff texting in sick. Families asking, “Is something going around?”
In Health and Social Care, a Disease Outbreak calls for calm and consistent action. The Services that manage Outbreaks best don’t switch into fear mode. They tighten the right routines early, communicate calmly, and protect the dignity of residents while reducing risk.
This guide is for Care Settings and explains what an outbreak is, what to look for, and what to do next.
What is a Disease Outbreak?
A Disease Outbreak is an unusual increase in similar symptoms in one setting over a short period of time.
In a Care Service, that might look like a noticeable rise in coughs, fever, and respiratory symptoms on the same unit. It doesn’t automatically mean “disaster.”
It means your service needs to move from Routine Prevention into a structured response to stop spread early.
CQC’s IPC quality statement is a helpful way to remember the purpose: Providers should assess and manage Infection risk, detect and control spread, and share concerns with appropriate Agencies promptly.
To read the full CQC guidance, click here.
Why Outbreaks can move fast in Care Settings
Care is close contact by nature. People share lounges, dining rooms and bathrooms. Staff support Personal Care, mobility, hydration and comfort . Quite often this is with repeated contact across a shift.
That’s what makes Care feel safe and supportive, but it also creates more opportunities for Infections to travel.
This is why “Outbreak readiness” is a living part of safe Care. It sits directly within the intent of Regulation 12, which requires Care and treatment to be provided safely through Risk Assessment and Control.
Spotting an Outbreak early
One of the most effective Outbreak controls is also the most human: noticing change early.
In Care, symptoms don’t always look textbook. Yes, you may see the obvious signs such as fever, coughing, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhoea.
But you may spot subtler changes first:
· Someone who is usually chatty becomes quieter
· Appetite drops
· Energy dips
· Confusion increases.
Early action tends to be calmer and less disruptive. It protects routines, reduces wider spread, and reassures Staff and Families because the Service is leading confidently rather than reacting late.
Norovirus: a common Outbreak trigger (and why it’s so disruptive)
Norovirus is one of the most common causes of vomiting and diarrhoea Outbreaks, and it can move quickly in shared environments.
It spreads via hands and contaminated surfaces, and can also spread through particles released that settle around the room. That’s why it can “catch Services out”: it doesn’t need much time or many gaps in practice to travel.
Can you get Norovirus more than once?
Yes you can. Immunity can be short-lived and different strains circulate, so it’s important not to relax standards once things appear to improve.
When Norovirus is suspected, what works is simple, but it must be done well:
· Tighten hand hygiene
· Increase cleaning of high touch areas
· Separate residents where appropriate to reduce spread
· Use PPE correctly and consistently
Outbreak readiness: what does the CQC expect?
Right now, National Surveillance in England is a helpful reminder that Outbreaks don’t give much warning.
UKHSA reported Norovirus cases increased by 47% in the first two weeks of 2026, compared with the previous two-week period ending 28 December, and flu is still circulating (Influenza test positivity was 6.9% up to 25 January 2026).
Inspectors expect evidence that your Service can spot Infection risk early, act consistently to control spread, and escalate concerns appropriately.
This links directly to Regulation 12 and Safe Care and Treatment in practice.
Strengthen your IPC with Specialist Training
At Care Business Associate Training, we deliver specialist Infection Prevention and Control Training for Care Services Nationally.
This includes Infection Prevention Lead training, designed to help Teams apply best practice confidently and evidence it clearly.
Call us: 01772 816922