Prevention of spread of communicable disease by air travel.
Mathematical modeling suggests that travel restrictions are likely to have only a limited effect on minimizing the spread of disease. Nevertheless, medical screening of travelers remains an option to be considered in a risk-reduction strategy. Screening of departing and/or arriving travelers are possibilities, although the World Health Organization (WHO) favors the former as it is normally easier to geographically contain a disease prior to its transmission outside the outbreak area. Apart from airport screening, several other related issues require consideration, including: transmission of disease on board aircraft; transmission of disease in airport terminal buildings; and contact tracing. A major challenge is to ensure adequate resources are devoted to pandemic preparedness planning in the aviation sector, which may not be fully considered in a national preparedness plan. This is because the prevention of accidents occupies most of the attention of regulatory aviation authorities, and public health authorities do not always see aviation as a priority area. Chief medical officers of regulatory authorities may be in a position to facilitate collaboration between the many stakeholders involved in preparedness planning for aviation.
Evans
Anthony D
AD
Aviation Medicine Section, International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal, Canada.
Thibeault
Claude
C
D000401:Aircraft; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014195:Travel; D014944:World Health Organization