Travel restrictions could be key to containing a pandemic
A near total ban on domestic travel could delay the spread of a flu pandemic by a week or more, particularly if the outbreak originates in a regional town or small city such as Darwin, according to new modelling by Australian researchers.
Regional and inland communities could be virtually quarantined from a pandemic if travel controls are rigidly applied and introduced very early on in an outbreak, according to Dr James Wood, a lecturer at the University of Sydney.
Dr Wood, who is also a researcher at the university’s National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, said: “Travel would need to be reduced to 10% to 1% of normal travel volumes to be effective.” “Even a delay of a few days or a week would give health authorities crucial time to prepare responses such as distributing anti-viral drugs and emergency resources.”
Writing in the latest issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Dr Wood and colleagues argue that as Australia is an island with a relatively low population density, travel restrictions could be particularly effective in preventing the spread of a pandemic.
“The population is concentrated in five large cities, along with smaller centres, primarily along its eastern and southern coastline.” “These centres are widely separated and travel between them is primarily by air.”
They acknowledge the “benefits from delaying the domestic spread of an epidemic” must be balanced with the economic and social disruption that would be caused, as occurred in nations affected by the SARS virus.
The economic impacts of travel restrictions make it most suitable for small, relatively isolated areas; these areas are also less likely to have the health and other resources to respond effectively.
Their modelling also suggests that if an epidemic originates in a smaller town or a small city such as Darwin, travel restrictions would be particularly effective. “Restricting visitors from entering or leaving that town is important.”
In larger centres and major cities and ports, where large volumes of international traffic are coming in, domestic travel restrictions are unlikely to be effective, they say.
The article, Effects of Internal Border Control on Spread of Pandemic Influenza, is published in the July 2007 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
For a copy of the article contact Kath Kenny, University of Sydney media office, on 0434 606 100
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports