Memphis VA Medical Center

Know the difference

Do You Know The Difference?

Isolation Is For People Who Are Ill

Isolation:

• Separates people who have a specific very contagious disease from those who are healthy
• Restricts the movement of people who have a contagious disease to stop the spread oftheir illness
• Protects healthy people from getting a contagious disease
• Lets people who have a contagious disease be cared for either in their homes, in hospitals,or in a designated facility
• Is commonly used in hospitals today for patients with tuberculosis (TB) and certain othercontagious disease
• Is usually voluntary; but governments (federal, state, and local) may require isolation ofpeople who have a contagious disease to protect the public

Quarantine Is For People Who Have Been exposed But Are Not Ill

Quarantine:

• Refers to people who, while not yet ill, have been exposed to a very contagious diseaseand could be able to spread it to others
• Applies to the separation and restriction of movement of people
• Is a public health strategy intended to stop the spread of very contagious disease
• Is effective in protecting the public from very contagious diseases
• Is usually decided by state health departments and state leaders

Social Distancing

One way to help stop the spread of a very contagious disease (such as pandemic flu) is to limit close contact of people with each other. This is known as social distancing. It may be initiated by state and community health leaders and include:

• School dismissal for students
• Work telecommuting
• Cancellation of public gatherings
• Isolation of people who have a contagious disease
• Liberal work leave policies
• Quarantine of people exposed to contagious disease

www.publichealth.va.gov/InfectionDontPassItOn