Skip to content

Back to School: Diseases Lurking in the Classroom

Release Date: 05 Aug 2025
Back to School Diseases Lurking in the Classroom

WHAT: 
As students head back to school, health experts are watching for infectious diseases that can spread quickly in classrooms. Declining vaccination rates raise the risk for preventable illnesses like measles and whooping cough, while flu, strep, COVID-19, RSV, and other circulating viruses could create a “perfect storm” for outbreaks. 

Pathologists from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) will share what they’re seeing in the lab, the top threats to watch this school year, and practical prevention measures schools and families can take to reduce risk. 

WHEN: 
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. CT (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET) 

WHO: 

  • Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSc, FCAP; Chair, CAP Council on Scientific Affairs, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Chair of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic  

WHY: 
As the 2025–26 school year begins, multiple infectious diseases are already circulating in some communities. This mix of illnesses could lead to increased classroom disruptions and increased student absences. CAP experts will discuss: 

  • Childhood vaccination rates for key diseases and why even small gaps matter 

  • Early-season trends in respiratory viruses such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV 

  • The role of pathology and lab medicine in detecting outbreaks and supporting public health responses 

  • How community health, hygiene practices, and environmental factors affect infection risk in school settings 

  • Practical steps schools, healthcare providers, and families can take to reduce illness and keep children healthy 

HOW TO JOIN: 
Email Media@cap.org for a registration link.

adding all to cart
False 0
File added to media cart.