Aircraft cabin infections a myth – report
An AAP and Fairfax Media report says that climbing on board a plane packed with people – some of them likely to have an infectious disease – increases the risk of catching a bug, right?…………..Wrong!
The quality and quantity of air filtered through a modern aircraft cabin is actually far better than in other crowded places, a survey of data by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found.
The bureau says it undertook the study in line with continuing public concern about whether, or to what extent, aircraft cabins represent an increased risk of transmission of infectious disease.
It reviewed current literature on the potential risk.
“Despite the popular view that the risk of contracting an infectious disease during air travel is high, the available evidence suggests otherwise,” the report stated.
“Many passengers might be concerned that the high recirculation rates of cabin air on modern aircraft poses a particular risk for infection.”
“However, outside air entering an aircraft cabin at altitude is essentially sterile, and the high airflow rates, laminar airflow pattern and frequent air exchanges of an aircraft cabin ventilation system minimises the spread of infection on board aircraft.”
The report found that air particle filtration systems fitted on modern aircraft should remove the possibility of the transmission of infection that would otherwise exist in aircraft cabins using recirculatory ventilation systems.
“Considering the large number of flights that occur each day, reported cases of transmission of infection in an aircraft cabin have occurred relatively infrequently,” the report said.
“The evidence suggests that passengers’ health is not greatly at risk through air travel and widespread infections are unlikely.”
When infection transmission was reported to have occurred in an aircraft cabin, it had required close contact with an infected passenger.
“This suggests that the risk of transmission within an aircraft cabin is no greater than in other crowded and confined spaces, provided circulation and filtration systems are working properly.”
Another aspect of the report found that, although the increase in international air travel could facilitate the spread of a future influenza pandemic, the aviation industry would also play a critical role in easing the impact of one.
“Australia will prevent or minimise the spread of an emerging pandemic through border control measures and also possibly through travel restrictions,” the report said.
“Although, the overall risk of transmission of infection in an aircraft cabin is low, passengers need to give sufficient thought to their fitness to fly – not only for their own health, but also for that of the other passengers who will be travelling with them.”
The report recommended that information to assist passengers to make more responsible decisions about whether or not to travel could be made more prominent.
by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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