Study shows air travel helps spread global flu
A new study showing the link between air travel and the spread of influenza may help health officials decide on flight restrictions in the event of a global flu pandemic.
Harvard researchers found the decline in US air travel following 9-11 also slowed the spread of that year’s annual flu outbreak.
“The delay was modest — flu deaths peaked about two weeks later than usual that winter — and by the time the season was over, the same number of people had died from the disease as in a typical year,” wrote the Washington Post.
But pandemic flu is expected to be much more deadly than conventional flu, so having a few weeks of extra time to deliver protective drugs or vaccines could make a big difference in total mortality, according to the scientists who conducted the study.
“If you knew there was a bubbling pandemic in Southeast Asia, you could potentially consider the idea of targeted travel advisories and targeted flight bans,” said the study’s co-author John Brownstein.
The finding was the “first study that actually shows there’s a major contribution of airline travel” that uses real-life data rather than computer models,” said co-author Kenneth Mandl.
Both researchers pointed out, however, that there are many implications to curtailing air traffic that include its economic impact.
“When you look at the big picture, do you really want to shut down air travel?” asked Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The authors of the study found the 9-11 pattern during a routine analysis of flu data from 1996 through 2005 when they discovered the 2001-2002 flu season had different numbers.
There have been recent warnings that a pandemic of virulent influenza could emerge.
Officials of various world health organizations have been debating the issue of travel restrictions in the event of an outbreak.
Some plans call for travel restrictions only as a last resort.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt