Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Transmission of Influenza on International Flights
May 2009
A. R. Foxwell, et al.
Air travel is one of the fastest ways to spread infectious diseases around the globe; the rapid spread of pandemic flu in 2009 was a prime example. Preventing the spread of infection among air passengers involves contacting those who sat near symptomatic passengers. However, the definition of "near" varies according to how infectious the virus is and how much the passengers and crew move around. It also depends on the length of the flight and how good the air circulation is. A study of flights to Australia found that for flu, the risk zone is smaller than previously thought. On long flights, risk was higher for those sitting in a smaller square zone around a symptomatic passenger (2 seats to either side and 2 seats in front and behind) than in the larger linear zone previously used (2 rows on either side). Narrowing the zone, and thus the number of potentially exposed passengers, may speed the contact process so exposed passengers can get preventive health care sooner.
Contact:
Paul M. Kelly
Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology & Environment,
Eggleston Rd, Acton, Canberra Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia;
+61 61255609
Paul.Kelly@anu.edu.au
http://www.cdc.gov/media/eid/2011/07.html?source=govdelivery
A. R. Foxwell, et al.
Air travel is one of the fastest ways to spread infectious diseases around the globe; the rapid spread of pandemic flu in 2009 was a prime example. Preventing the spread of infection among air passengers involves contacting those who sat near symptomatic passengers. However, the definition of "near" varies according to how infectious the virus is and how much the passengers and crew move around. It also depends on the length of the flight and how good the air circulation is. A study of flights to Australia found that for flu, the risk zone is smaller than previously thought. On long flights, risk was higher for those sitting in a smaller square zone around a symptomatic passenger (2 seats to either side and 2 seats in front and behind) than in the larger linear zone previously used (2 rows on either side). Narrowing the zone, and thus the number of potentially exposed passengers, may speed the contact process so exposed passengers can get preventive health care sooner.
Contact:
Paul M. Kelly
Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology & Environment,
Eggleston Rd, Acton, Canberra Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia;
+61 61255609
Paul.Kelly@anu.edu.au
http://www.cdc.gov/media/eid/2011/07.html?source=govdelivery
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