Health Risks in Switzerland

Expats are generally safe in Switzerland where there are no major health issues. Still, preventive measures are recommended as well as taking out international health insurance, considering high medical costs in the country.

In rare instances, however, tick-borne encephalitis, cholera, E-coli, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, toxoplasmosis and Lyme disease can occur. These are isolated cases and do not pose any significant health risks to expats or to the general population. These diseases also surface in rural areas and rarely find their way to the cities. AIDS exists in Switzerland in at least 0.6% of the population, but all cases are controlled. There are also no recent reports of yellow fever or malaria in the country.

There are a number of mosquito-borne diseases that may occur, especially in the rural or forested areas, but are not considered fatal. Mosquitoes can get very annoying, though, so it's good to always have repellents in handy.

It is best to consult a travel medicine specialist before coming to Switzerland. Although the threat is very weak, everybody will still benefit from being a step ahead and taking proper precautionary measures.

Vaccinations may be recommended or strongly recommended, depending on the degree of the threat. The country has a public health insurance system but most expats also obtain private health insurance in Switzerland for added security.