Specific Behavioural Recommendations / Hygiene in the event of a pandemic
- Wash and disinfect your hands regularly.
- Cough and sneeze into a paper handkerchief or, if you have no other option, into the crook of your arm.
- Avoid major events and large crowds, forgo shaking hands and salutary kisses, keep your distance to other people.
- Get yourself vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the flu.
- Stay at home if you have flu symptoms. Particularly avoid contact with groups that are at risk. Wear a hygienic mask in the presence of other people.
- Follow the instructions of the authorities.
General Behavioural Recommendations
- Inform yourself via radio and television and follow the instructions given by the authorities and emergency organisations.
- Call the emergency services only in an emergency.
- Use the telephone and other important means of communication only for important and urgent requirements (danger of network overload).
- Use cars and other means of transport only for important and urgent requirements (danger of traffic overload).
- Act particularly careful in traffic (danger due to breakdown of traffic lights, barriers etc.).
- Inform and support neighbours and people needing assistance in your vicinity.
Sources:
A concentrated occurrence of an infectious disease within a certain period of time or population is called an epidemic (e. g. cholera, typhoid, legionnaires’ disease). Switzerland annually becomes the victim of influenza waves that can become epidemic in extent. A pandemic is a temporarily limited, world-wide, massive outbreak of an infection (flu, AIDS etc.). The risk of a pandemic is assessed to be high because in this day and age, infectious diseases are able to spread rapidly all over the globe.