To prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors. Behavioral risk factors
- Avoid contact with ill persons in the phase of infection.Transmission usually occurs by droplet infection, less frequently by direct contact with the virus, for example, through hand contact.
Prevention measures
- Hand washing (under running water with soap and water (for at least 15-20 seconds); soaping hands well and then rinsing off the soap scum thoroughly; if necessary, hand disinfection afterwards)
- Always after:
- Direct contact with other people
- Coming home
- Coughing and sneezing
- Blowing the nose
- Going to the toilet
- Contact with animals
- Always before:
- Food preparation
- The food
- Always after:
- Avoid handshakes and hugs to greet.
- Keep your distance from people who are coughing or sneezing.
- Turn away when coughing or sneezing, if possible sneeze into the crook of the elbow.
- As little as possible touch mouth, nose or eyes with their own hands.
- Nasal-mouth protection (MNS): wearing MNS by all members of the household and the sick themselves.
- Hand disinfection: Apply agents with proven efficacy, with the range of action “limited virucidal” (effective against enveloped viruses), “limited virucidal PLUS” or “virucidal”.
