200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an Bird Flu scare at Auckland Intl Airport

[AlaskaDenise]

Posted at 3:05pm on 13 Nov 2007
More than than 200 crew and passengers have been caught up in an avian flu scare at Auckland International Airport.


St John Ambulance staff received a call from airport authorities on Tuesday morning alerting them that a passenger with a high fever was on board a plane arriving from Korea.

The case turned out to be suspected gastroenteritis, and the person is in hospital in a stable condition.

But because the passenger's symptoms were so similar to those of avian flu, everyone was kept on the plane while paramedics wearing protection gear boarded and assessed everyone.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200711131505/avian_flu_scare_ties_up_200_crew_and_passengers

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Passenger sparks bird flu scare in NZ

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Passenger-sparks-bird-flu-scare-in-NZ/2007/11/13/1194766654449.html

Auckland International Airport was forced to put an international flight with hundreds of passengers into quarantine after a sick passenger sparked fears of a possible case of bird flu.

An Auckland Airport spokesperson told NZPA a Korean airline was quarantined after airline staff onboard the plane alerted ground staff, setting in motion the airport's response to a possible case of bird flu.

About 220 passengers on the aircraft were quarantined by St John Ambulance staff.

It was reported a patient was taken to hospital in a stable condition with suspected gastroenteritis.

Auckland Medical Officer of Health, Dr Andrew Lindsay, told Fairfax Media ambulance and public health authorities were alerted, and the aircraft was quarantined until the passenger could be assessed.

Passengers were assessed on the aircraft and were all advised that if they become ill in the next couple of days to see a doctor immediately.

The Auckland Airport spokesperson told NZPA the response by airport staff and medical professionals showed they were ready and had an effective plan to handle any further alerts.

"We worked with everyone from public health and airport staff to initiate a plan that we had prepared for such an event.

"While it turned out the passenger had something else it shows that we are prepared."

 

[tropical]

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Good opportunity for training, but:

"Auckland Medical Officer of Health, Dr Andrew Lindsay, told Fairfax Media ambulance and public health authorities were alerted, and the aircraft was quarantined until the passenger could be assessed.
Passengers were assessed on the aircraft and were all advised that
if they become ill in the next couple of days to see a doctor immediately." - that, is not a very good way to assess the rest of the passengers.
Of course the meds think that there are no infection in the others when the single passenger was assessed to have gastroenteritis, but
are planed that the rest of the passengers will be tested with an han-held device for fast recognition of an eventualy respiratory viral infection BEFORE their release from the airplain?

If they planed it (or had do it) than :applause: ,
if they doesn't will be good policy to implement that kind of fast testing in a future, BEFORE the other passenger will be released, AND NOT RELY ON:
"if they become ill in the next couple of days to see a doctor immediately",
because we don't want that "it" will have a chance to spread larger widely for few days more, is it correct?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

NZ dealt well with bird flu scare

<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = EXSL /><EXSL:STRING xmlns:exsl="http://exslt.org/common">Nov 14, 2007 9:46 AM</EXSL:STRING>
A leading virologist is commending Korean Airways and health officials in New Zealand for their handling of Tuesday's bird flu scare.


More than 200 people were quarantined onboard a 747 at Auckland International Airport, after a passenger fell ill with bird flu symptoms.


Bird Flu expert Lance Jennings says emergency services worked well to isolate and assess passengers.


He says the bird flu virus continues to spread around the world, and health authorities must remain on high alert.

.

 

[tropical]

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Re: 200 crew & passengers have been caught up in an BF scare at Auckland Intl Airport

Than, well done.
"If they planed it (or had do it) than :applause: ."