Swimming pools
Owners, operators and managers of pools and spas that members of the public have access to must ensure they comply with the requirements Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009. These premises are known as aquatic facilities under the Act (PLEASE NOTE: Private household pools and spas are not regulated by the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009).
The minimum requirements are enforced by us to minimise the risk of the transmission of infectious diseases via the swimming pool water of public aquatic facilities. The regulations including the requirements are available online at health.vic.gov.au
Notifiable diseases
Notifiable diseases are specific diseases that have significance due to their prevalence, transmission, contagiousness and public health significance.
The Blue Book is an extensive list of all notifiable diseases in Victoria. It provides guidelines for the control of specific infectious diseases. The exclusion table for school aged children is included.
Specific adult exclusions requirements can be accessed through the specific sections in the Blue Book. Some diseases are preventable by the administration of vaccinations.
Information on our immunisation services for vaccine preventable diseases is available.
If you think you or your child may have a notifiable disease, contact your local doctor immediately. Samples may be taken to determine which (if any) disease you have.
Apply good personal hygiene practices until it is confirmed as to what disease it may be in order to protect other persons.
Food handlers who have symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, sore throat with fever, fever or jaundice should be excluded from the food handling business for up to 48 hours after their symptoms cease. They must be excluded from any direct contact with food during this time.
Head lice
Head lice have been around for many thousands of years, anyone can get head lice.
Head lice are small, wingless, blood sucking insects. Their colour varies from whitish-brown to reddish-brown and they only survive on humans - they do not transmit any infectious diseases.
When isolated from the head they die very quickly (usually within 24 hours). People get head lice from direct hair-to-hair contact with another person who has head lice.
Head lice do not have wings or jumping legs so they cannot fly or jump from head-to-head. They can only crawl.
For more information including frequently asked questions, please see the Department of Health fact sheet. Further information is available at:
Bed bugs
Bed bugs are small wingless insects that feed on human blood. Places that the bed bugs live with humans include houses, hostels, bedrooms, beds and places of little movement such as the cinema.
Bed bugs, although unable to fly, are fast movers and are quick to escape once they are exposed to light.
For more information, see the Department of Health fact sheet.