Valued Voice

As we approach winter, the holidays and the possibility of an increase in viral illness, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Bureau of Communicable Diseases (BCD) issued the BCD memo 2025-04 “Health Care Personnel Exclusion and Return to Work Following an Acute Respiratory Illness” on Nov. 10, 2025. To provide context and further background, DHS sent out a Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Prevention Program communication on Nov. 19 titled “DHS Encourages Long-Term Care and Other Health Care Facilities to Be Proactive in Planning for and Preventing Outbreaks.” 

Both the BCD memo and the HAI communication share the aim of assisting health care settings in planning for and preventing viral illness outbreaks. However, the HAI communication noted that health care settings that already have a strong framework in place for managing infection prevention and occupational health, like hospitals, may continue to follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines as they develop and implement their internal policies.

DHS will have a representative from the HAI Prevention Program on a Dec. 5 provider webinar to answer any questions facilities might have. The HAI Team is also available at DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov to answer any questions prior to the provider webinar.

For additional questions, you may contact WHA Senior Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice Ann Zenk.