Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases are diseases that can be contracted from another person, animal or contaminated object, such as a door handle or contact with an animal. These diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi. They can spread in the environment and be transmitted to humans. These diseases can affect vulnerable groups in particular, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals.
An epidemic is when a disease affects multiple individuals in a short space of time in a given region. When an epidemic spreads worldwide, it is referred to as a pandemic, as was the case with the Covid-19 virus. Mainly in winter, a serious epidemic of respiratory infections can occur every two to five years, caused by seasonal flu, COVID, or a combination of other respiratory viruses.
What can you do?
BEFORE
- Ensure good personal hygiene and wash your hands regularly. This will protect you from any contact with pathogens.
- Regularly ventilate common areas.
- Avoid close contact with infected individuals.
- Get vaccinated against the relevant diseases, as advised by your GP.
- Find out about any sanitary precautions. For example, are you travelling to a country where an infectious disease is prevalent? Consult the travel advice on the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs.
More advice on the Department of Care website.
DURING
You are ill:
- Consult your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms or feel unwell.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue, a mask or your arm if you have to sneeze or cough.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Make sure you wash them after coughing or sneezing, and after blowing your nose.
- Use tissues that can be disposed of in a sealed waste bin.
- Do not go to school, work or any other public place if you are ill.
- Wear a face mask around other people or if you have to leave your home.
- Drink plenty of water (1.5 litres a day).
- Regularly ventilate your home.
A close member of your family or circle of friends is ill:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.
- Do not drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as the person who is ill.
- Avoid close contact with the infected individual.
- Wear a mask if necessary.
- Regularly ventilate common areas.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, taps, etc.
AFTER
- Wash the laundry of the person who is ill at 60°C or higher.
Impact and probability
The figures relating to probability and impact describe an infectious disease of considerable magnitude. The BNRA theoretically describes such a scenario as follows:
- A disease is transmitted by blood, contact or air, with a medium to high mortality rate.
- Although a treatment exists, there is still significant pressure on hospital capacity.
How should you interpret these results?
Within the BNRA, experts assessed three scenarios for each risk: considerable, major or extreme. On each page, you will find the results of the scenario with the highest score based on the combination of likelihood and impact. This does not mean that this scenario will occur or is the most likely. Read more here about how to correctly interpret the results.
Probability
Strong
Human impact
Moderate
Societal impact
Weak
Environmental impact
No impact
Financial impact
Weak
What do the authorities do?
Sciensano monitors the intensity and severity of respiratory infections every winter. Based on the data, a green, yellow, orange or red colour code is assigned to assess the level of risk. Each colour code is associated with a series of recommendations for the general public and healthcare professionals, such as the Winter Plan for Respiratory Infections.
Care providers who identify an infectious disease must report it to the relevant agencies of the authorities, namely:
- The Department of Care for Flanders
- Vivalis for Brussels
- The Agence pour une Vie de Qualité (AVIQ) for Wallonia
- The Hygieneinspektion van Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft for the German-speaking Community.
This makes it possible to trace the source and limit the spread.
In the event of a threat to public health, the health authorities take measures to minimise the risks to the Belgian population. The Risk Assessment Group (RAG) then analyses the risks to the population on the basis of epidemiological and scientific data. Based on the advice of this group, the Risk Management Group (RMG) decides on the measures to be taken to protect public health.
In the event of a serious threat, the Generic Preparedness Plan may be triggered. This is a memorandum of understanding between the various health authorities. Together, they take steps to minimise the risk, and coordinate their resources to ensure that the risk of spreading is limited as much as possible. There are three distinct phases:
- Phase 1: Prevent the contagious disease from entering the country. GPs and hospitals are ready to identify and treat anyone with symptoms.
- Phase 2: Stop the spread of the disease. If a person develops symptoms, doctors and hospitals try to prevent multiple infections by tracking contacts.
- Phase 3: Managing hospital capacity.
- The health authorities examine where additional capacity is needed, how best to distribute patients between hospitals, and which admissions can be delayed.
- In the event of a large number of infections, the National Crisis Center can play a coordinating role. At this stage, the government may take additional measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
International organisations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) monitor the situation at the (inter)national level.