The International Air Transport Association (IATA) asked the World
Health Organization to answer some frequently asked questions about
air travel and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The
answers were posted on the association's website (www.iata.org).
Q: Is air travel a high-risk transmission environment?
A: No. The risk of transmission on aeroplanes is very low.
Travelers who develop SARS symptoms, as well as other respiratory
illnesses accompanied by a fever, are advised not to undertake
travel until fully recovered.
Over 200 million passengers have flown since early March,
approximately one-third in Asia. Since the beginning of April, six
flights carried SARS suspect cases on board, but no cases of
in-flight transmission have occurred. No cases of SARS suspect
cases on board have occurred since effective screening measures
were introduced.
Q: Do aircraft have adequate ventilation?
A: Yes. The configurations of the air circulation system for
commercial aircraft are designed to the specifications of
international aviation regulations as well as guidelines of
aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing and Airbus.
*
Circulation: In flight, fresh air is introduced into the cabin
continuously. The entire cabin air volume is exchanged every three
minutes.
*
Airflow: The airflow movement is designed to minimize the potential
for the spread of bacteria through the cabin.
*
Filters: Most major airlines install HEPA (high-efficiency
particulate air) filters, which are highly efficient in removing
dust and airborne contaminants such as droplets, bacteria and large
viral particles. This filter type is also used by hospital
operating theatres.
*
Humidity/air quality: As the humidity is quite low, this makes the
cabin environment quite inhospitable to germs' survival and
growth.
Q: Is there a risk of getting infected by another passenger
on board a flight?
A: Information to date suggests that there is no
transmission of infection from persons with no symptoms of the
disease (such as fever, coughing or sneezing).
Q: Are passengers at risk from the cabin crew?
A: No, all cabin crew should be medically fit and physically
capable to fly and fulfil their duties on board. If they feel
unwell or have symptoms such as fever or coughing, they will not be
working.
Q: Should passengers take any precautions when traveling on
aeroplanes?
A: Travelers from SARS-hit countries who demonstrate
symptoms of SARS such as fever and respiratory symptoms should
postpone further travel and seek medical advice immediately.
All persons should observe good personal hygiene. Wash hands
frequently.
If
passengers cough or sneeze while on board, they should cover their
mouth and nose, and wash their hands afterwards.
Q: Should passengers wear masks when traveling by air?
A: Those who feel more comfortable for personal reasons may
choose to wear a mask. However, the best defence against SARS is to
maintain good personal and environmental hygiene (such as frequent
hand washing).
Q: What is the risk for a person sitting next to a
SARS-infected passenger on board a flight?
A: With the new screening methods in place in SARS-hit
countries, the chances of a potentially sick passenger traveling on
board an aircraft and transmitting the disease to others is very
low.
Current data supports the view that a person is not infectious
unless they are sick or symptomatic. Based on available
epidemiological data, the vast majority of transmissions have
occurred as a result of respiratory droplets spread through close
person-to-person contact.
If
an apparently healthy passenger boarded a flight and then proceeded
to develop respiratory symptoms during the flight, guidelines from
the World Health Organization, local departments of health and the
centers for disease control provide for airline crew to place a
face mask on that passenger, isolate them where possible and block
off the vacated seat if possible. A dedicated toilet will be
blocked off for use by the suspect passenger. Therefore, the risk
of transmitting the disease is very low.
(China Daily May 8, 2003)
