tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Jul;17(7):1188-94.
Transmission of influenza on international flights, may 2009.
Foxwell AR, Roberts L, Lokuge K, Kelly PM.
Source
Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of influenza transmission on international flights is necessary for prioritizing public health response to pandemic incursions. A retrospective cohort study to ascertain in-flight transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and influenza-like illness (ILI) was undertaken for 2 long-haul flights entering Australia during May 2009. Combined results, including survey responses from 319 (43%) of 738 passengers, showed that 13 (2%) had an ILI in flight and an ILI developed in 32 (5%) passengers during the first week post arrival. Passengers were at 3.6% increased risk of contracting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 if they sat in the same row as or within 2 rows of persons who were symptomatic preflight. A closer exposed zone (2 seats in front, 2 seats behind, and 2 seats either side) increased the risk for postflight disease to 7.7%. Efficiency of contact tracing without compromising the effectiveness of the public health intervention might be improved by limiting the exposed zone.
PMID:
21762571
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21762571
Transmission of influenza on international flights, may 2009.
Foxwell AR, Roberts L, Lokuge K, Kelly PM.
Source
Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of influenza transmission on international flights is necessary for prioritizing public health response to pandemic incursions. A retrospective cohort study to ascertain in-flight transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and influenza-like illness (ILI) was undertaken for 2 long-haul flights entering Australia during May 2009. Combined results, including survey responses from 319 (43%) of 738 passengers, showed that 13 (2%) had an ILI in flight and an ILI developed in 32 (5%) passengers during the first week post arrival. Passengers were at 3.6% increased risk of contracting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 if they sat in the same row as or within 2 rows of persons who were symptomatic preflight. A closer exposed zone (2 seats in front, 2 seats behind, and 2 seats either side) increased the risk for postflight disease to 7.7%. Efficiency of contact tracing without compromising the effectiveness of the public health intervention might be improved by limiting the exposed zone.
PMID:
21762571
[PubMed - in process]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21762571