Helping young people to battle against bugs

20 January 2010

From January 2010, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is arming every school in London with the innovative teaching pack 'e-Bug' to help pupils fight back against common infections such as swine flu and norovirus (winter vomiting).

Since December 2009, over 20,000 e-Bug packs have been distributed to schools across England. The pack covers topics on microbes such as viruses and bacteria, hygiene, vaccines and antibiotic use, so young people can learn the facts about bugs and how to protect themselves from infections.

e-Bug appeals to different age groups by featuring cartoon characters, a website with games and hands-on activities like a "snot runway" to educate young people about how infections spread. The interactive activities show pupils the effects of poor hygiene and teach the science behind bugs in a fun and understandable way.

Endorsed by the Department of Health, Department for Children, Schools and Families and the European Commission, the pack is made up of educational games for primary and secondary school-age children (9-11 year olds and 13-15 year olds). This is to ensure that the concepts taught in the pack are appropriate for various age groups and that the messages are reinforced twice in a young person's schooling.

e-Bug was developed by a team of healthcare experts at the HPA's Primary Care Unit after research in English and European schools found that teaching about antibiotics and resistance varied widely. It also found the majority of hand hygiene and antibiotic campaigns were targeted towards adults, with few school-based resources available for young people.

Dr Brian McCloskey, Director of the Health Protection Agency in London, said:
"e-Bug provides practical information about infections in a fun, hands-on way, which means young people are more likely to retain and use what they learn.

"With the current swine flu epidemic, as well as other bugs like seasonal flu and norovirus, we have seen how school children are not only more susceptible to acquiring viruses, but can also be more infectious to others.

"Since many swine flu cases have been centred around school outbreaks, it is particularly relevant for schools to use e-Bug so young people can actively take part in preventing the spread of infection.

"e-Bug is part of our battle to fight against antibiotic resistance. It educates children - our future generation of antibiotic users - about the importance of prudent use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are currently the most common medicines given to children and increased antibiotic use is linked to increased resistance.

"The more bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics, the fewer medicines we'll have to treat infections, so we all play a part in the arms race against bugs."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The e-Bug website is www.e-bug.eu
e-Bug is being sent to schools across England. In London this is 1,265 schools.
e-Bug is being launched in ten EU countries with some of the highest antibiotic use and largest populations, making up 55% of the EU population. The 10 countries which will be implementing e-Bug are Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain. Eight countries are seeking funding to implement it and they are Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Slovenia and Slovakia.
e-Bug is sponsored by the European Commission Director General for Health, and Consumer Protection Directorate General. 40% of funding is contributed by the ten countries implementing e-Bug.
Although not formally included in the English school curriculum, e-Bug is available for all schools to use from this year and has been evaluated within schools in Gloucestershire and London.
e-Bug complements the Hands up for Max hand washing resource pack for Key Stage 1 primary school pupils. Information about both resources is available at www.hpa.org.uk/handwashing
The "snot runaway" activity aims to show children how far a sneeze can travel and that it is important to catch a sneeze in a tissue. This is demonstrated by using a spray filled with green colouring and testing how far it travels without a tissue, on your hands, and with a tissue.

Media enquiries:
Tycie West, 020 7759 2834 / tycie.west@hpa.org.uk
Katherine Lewis, 020 7759 2824 / katherine.lewis@hpa.org.uk

Last reviewed: 20 January 2010