Hungary launches flu prevention campaign

A national campaign titled "Protect those you love, do not take home the flu" was launched on 29 January 2013 at a widely covered press event in the main bus station of Budapest, Hungary. The campaign was designed to raise awareness about how to prevent the spread of influenza and continue through the end of the flu season in March. It was organized jointly by the Ministry of Health, National Public Health and Medical Officer’s Services, WHO Country Office in Hungary and the main public transport companies.

At the launch, Zsofia Pusztai, Head of the WHO Country Office in Hungary, reported on the current flu situation in the WHO European Region and emphasized the importance of vaccination for high-risk groups as well as the hygienic practices required to prevent the spread of flu.

The Directors of the three main public transport companies, Volánbusz Zrt (buses), MÁV Zrt (trains) and Budapest Airport Zrt (flights) detailed why they joined this campaign and introduced their contributions to help raise awareness of the importance of prevention, including placement of thousands of posters and vaccination of drivers.

Dr Gyorgy Berenccsi, professor from the National Public Health and Medical Officer’s Services, introduced the national recommendations on prevention and treatment of flu.