Summary
Content
PERSONAL SAFETY, HEALTH
INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN FLIGHTS
| Because the aircraft cabin is a confined space and flights may be of many hours duration, there is the risk of a contagious disease being passed from one passenger to another. This can occur when an infected passenger releases organisms into the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing.
The risk of such person-to-person contact of course is much greater for those passengers sitting next to or very near the passenger with the illness. |
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Therefore, the risk of transmission of illness in an aircraft is no different from in any confined space including a room, office, train, or bus.
There is no evidence that organisms pass from one person to another through the aircraft ventilation system. Although in newer aircraft 50% of the air in the cabin is recirculated (the other 50% is outside air), it passes through highly efficient filters that remove bacteria, fungi, and most viruses.
Passengers are further protected because of the design features of the ventilation system. Inflow and outflow ducts are located in every row (in the ceiling and floor) thereby avoiding the mixing of air throughout the cabin. This is called radial airflow.
Therefore, if a passenger does have a contagious disease, only passengers in the immediate vicinity would potentially be at risk. Other passengers would be protected because of effective filtration and radial airflow of the ventilation system.
Nevertheless, there have been some incidents of disease transmission in-flight. These include the flu, measles, and tuberculosis (TB). All were thought due to person-to-person transmission. Because the airlines cannot be expected to screen passengers for illness, the best prevention is postponement of air travel for anyone with a contagious disease, particularly a serious one such as TB. Therefore, out of consideration for others, passengers with illness should defer travel in any mode of public transport until well. If there is any question, a physician should be consulted.