The airline industry ramping up measures to reduce the risk of transmission of swine flu by stowing pillows and blankets and issuing disinfectant wipes.
William Schaffner, head of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University medical school said that aircraft cabins have been renowned for spreading infection from one part of the world to another, as proven by the SARS epidemic
He also doesn’t believe that much can be done, as the airline industry has had to fight the pandemic, as well as global downturn in the travel industry.
Over 10 percent of flights between the US and Mexico have been cancelled since September last year, according to the Official Airline Guide.
Although the airline industry has no desire to play doctor, they are ready to stop a flight if need be, as the US Centre for Disease Control has set up a stringent policy on dealing with passengers who show symptoms of swine flu. One such measure is to deny boarding to any passenger showing signs of a serious communicable disease, and that reporting of patients whose diagnosis has been confirmed.
Southwest Airlines spokesman, Paul Flaningan said that crew were trained to respond to sick passengers at the gate and in flight, and to work closely with medical personal to identify the appropriate course of action.
As a precaution, some airlines including Virgin American and Southwest have scrapped issuing blankets and pillows on some flights.
A Virgin America spokeswoman said that the airline has began issuing antibacterial hand-wipes and gels for use for guests and crew, as well as offering masks for those who request them.
In Asia, authorities have attempted to use specially designed cameras to detect passengers who have the illness, but experts believe that machines are not perfect.
Most other airlines have been painting a different picture on the swine flu pandemic, claiming that there is no greater risk of travelling by air than by using public transport, as the air inside the cabin is completely exchanged with air outside between 10 to 15 times per hour.
