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Hazard · Health

Pandemic

Follow the hygiene and behaviour rules of FOPH, reduce your contacts if you show symptoms and rely on official channels rather than rumours. Keep supplies, hygiene material and long-term medicines ready. A pandemic runs in waves over months – the COVID-19 pandemic claimed around 14,000 deaths in Switzerland.

A pandemic changes everyday life for months: shortages of medicines and care, staff absences at work and in supply, restrictions on public life. Unlike a storm, it is not a one-off event but a sustained burden lasting weeks to months, in several waves.

Switzerland has experienced this twice: the Spanish flu of 1918/19 claimed around 25,000 lives, the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 around 14,000. Both showed how quickly a healthcare system reaches its limits and how important personal preparedness is.

Personal preparedness — supplies, hygiene material, a stock of medicines and up-to-date vaccination protection — relieves both you and the healthcare system. The FOPH provides reliable information; rumours and false reports are a risk of their own during a pandemic.

Risk rating

Risk · High (level 4 of 5)

Likelihood: Medium · Impact: High → Overall risk: High.

Risk matrix: likelihood runs vertically (top = high), impact runs horizontally (right = high). The highlighted cell shows this hazard's rating.
Impact
Low Medium High
High
Medium This hazard's rating
Low

Legend: Low (green) · Medium (yellow) · High (red). Overall risk is likelihood multiplied by impact.

An infectious disease can restrict supply, work and everyday life for months. Supplies and hygiene reduce the risk.

Immediate measures

  • Hygiene material in stock
  • Check the stock of medicines
  • Follow the authorities' recommendations

Warning signs

  • FOPH notices about a new, spreading communicable disease (national and international)
  • WHO classifications (e.g. "Public Health Emergency of International Concern") as an early indicator
  • Rising case numbers in neighbouring countries / first confirmed cases in Switzerland
  • Recommendations on hygiene, mask wearing or contact reduction by the authorities
  • Shortages of certain medicines or protective material in shops

Before · During · After

Before

  • Stock up on hygiene material and masks
  • Long-term medicines for several weeks
  • Keep vaccination protection up to date

During

  • Follow the FOPH's hygiene and behaviour rules
  • Reduce contacts when showing symptoms of illness
  • Use official channels rather than rumours

After

  • Replace supplies
  • Discuss the experience in the household and adjust the plan

This really happened

  1. 2022 Avian influenza H5N1

    After detections of highly contagious avian influenza in wild and domestic poultry, the FSVO declared the whole of Switzerland a control zone from 28 November 2022 to 1 May 2023, with confinement requirements and protective measures.

    Source

  2. 2022 Mpox outbreak (monkeypox)

    During the 2022 international mpox outbreak, 551 cases were recorded in Switzerland; the disease has been notifiable since 20 July 2022. From autumn 2022 only isolated cases occurred.

    Source

  3. 2020 COVID-19 pandemic

    The first case was confirmed on 25 February 2020 in Ticino; on 16 March the Federal Council declared the "extraordinary situation" (lockdown). Until the count was discontinued in mid-2023, the FOPH recorded around 14,000 laboratory-confirmed deaths in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

    Source

  4. 1918 Spanish flu

    In two waves, around two million people fell ill; according to official statistics about 24,500 died (~0.62 % of the population), aggravated by troop movements during the general strike.

    Source

Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare for a pandemic?

Stock up on hygiene material and masks, keep long-term medicines for several weeks and keep your vaccination protection up to date. This protects you and relieves the healthcare system.

How do I recognise the onset of a pandemic?

Early indicators are FOPH notices about a new infectious disease, WHO classifications such as a "public health emergency of international concern", rising case numbers in neighbouring countries and shortages of medicines or protective material.

What should I do after a pandemic wave?

Replace your used supplies, discuss the experience with your household and adjust your emergency plan. Be prepared for a pandemic to unfold in multiple waves.

Official sources