tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2020 Sep 18;26(11).
doi: 10.3201/eid2611.203299. Online ahead of print.
Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 During Long Flight
Nguyen Cong Khanh, Pham Quang Thai, Ha-Linh Quach, Ngoc-Anh Hoang Thi, Phung Cong Dinh, Tran Nhu Duong, Le Thi Quynh Mai, Ngu Duy Nghia, Tran Anh Tu, La Ngoc Quang, Tran Dai Quang, Trong-Tai Nguyen, Florian Vogt, Dang Duc Anh
Abstract
To assess the role of in-flight transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we investigated a cluster of cases among passengers on a 10-hour commercial flight. Affected persons were passengers, crew, and their close contacts. We traced 217 passengers and crew to their final destinations and interviewed, tested, and quarantined them. Among the 16 persons in whom SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected, 12 (75%) were passengers seated in business class along with the only symptomatic person (attack rate 62%). Seating proximity was strongly associated with increased infection risk (risk ratio 7.3, 95% CI 1.2-46.2). We found no strong evidence supporting alternative transmission scenarios. In-flight transmission that probably originated from 1 symptomatic passenger caused a large cluster of cases during a long flight. Guidelines for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among air passengers should consider individual passengers' risk for infection, the number of passengers traveling, and flight duration.
Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; air travel; aircraft; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.
. 2020 Sep 18;26(11).
doi: 10.3201/eid2611.203299. Online ahead of print.
Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 During Long Flight
Nguyen Cong Khanh, Pham Quang Thai, Ha-Linh Quach, Ngoc-Anh Hoang Thi, Phung Cong Dinh, Tran Nhu Duong, Le Thi Quynh Mai, Ngu Duy Nghia, Tran Anh Tu, La Ngoc Quang, Tran Dai Quang, Trong-Tai Nguyen, Florian Vogt, Dang Duc Anh
- PMID: 32946369
- DOI: 10.3201/eid2611.203299
Abstract
To assess the role of in-flight transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we investigated a cluster of cases among passengers on a 10-hour commercial flight. Affected persons were passengers, crew, and their close contacts. We traced 217 passengers and crew to their final destinations and interviewed, tested, and quarantined them. Among the 16 persons in whom SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected, 12 (75%) were passengers seated in business class along with the only symptomatic person (attack rate 62%). Seating proximity was strongly associated with increased infection risk (risk ratio 7.3, 95% CI 1.2-46.2). We found no strong evidence supporting alternative transmission scenarios. In-flight transmission that probably originated from 1 symptomatic passenger caused a large cluster of cases during a long flight. Guidelines for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection among air passengers should consider individual passengers' risk for infection, the number of passengers traveling, and flight duration.
Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; air travel; aircraft; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.