Hi everyone. I really enjoy the discussions on the Shen Wu site. It's a great community.

A local high school by me recently canceled all wrestling matches for two weeks due to an outbreak of herpes gladitorum.

Other than students not coming to class when they have outbreaks etc, are there things a martial art school can do to safeguard against the transmission of herpes and ringworm? Like by regularly disinfecting the mat and general cleaning practices etc, does this lower the chances of a school having an outbreak problem? Does Shen Wu do anything to keep the conditions clean and sanitary so nobody catches anything from sparring practice?

Cleaning the mats and making sure students with ringworm etc. stay off the mat until the problem clears up is the best way to prevent transmission.

Students should also shower immediately after training, and be sure to immediately clean and disinfect any cut or abrasion, no matter how small.

Athletes with asymptomatic viral shedding of HSV may still transmit the virus. Students with HSV should consider suppressive therapy during wrestling season.
All minor scrapes, cuts, and burns must be protected with a barrier to reduce the portal of catching an infection of any type.
Ringworm is a fungal infection not unlike foot fungus or tinea versicolor banning everybody with fungal infections is idealistic, but does not happen in most places. Again prescription medications are available to cure fungus.
Disinfectant cleaning of the mats and personal hygiene are of the utmost importance.
Educating the individual player to be responsible in not spreading illness is the bottomline (like insisting people cover their cough and not come to work sick) and the core of prevention of transmission. This may be easier said than done in a multicultural population where washing gis and brushing teeth is not mandatory and mentioning that a player is unclean or smells may be considered rude. The manners of the school must be established where not having meticulous personal hygiene, and working out when there is the potential for transmitting illness is just not acceptable.

but if I cover my mouth when coughing I'll get plegm all over my hands and then touch everything.

c'mon its just a lil' herpes!!! whatre you scared of??!!