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Review
. 2005 Mar;365(9463):989-96.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71089-8.

Transmission of infectious diseases during commercial air travel

Alexandra Mangili  1 , Mark A Gendreau
Affiliations
Review

Transmission of infectious diseases during commercial air travel

Alexandra Mangili et al. Lancet. 2005 Mar.

Abstract

Because of the increasing ease and affordability of air travel and mobility of people, airborne, food-borne, vector-borne, and zoonotic infectious diseases transmitted during commercial air travel are an important public health issue. Heightened fear of bioterrorism agents has caused health officials to re-examine the potential of these agents to be spread by air travel. The severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak of 2002 showed how air travel can have an important role in the rapid spread of newly emerging infections and could potentially even start pandemics. In addition to the flight crew, public health officials and health care professionals have an important role in the management of infectious diseases transmitted on airlines and should be familiar with guidelines provided by local and international authorities.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Air circulation pattern in typical airline passenger cabin From WHO with permission of the publisher. Arrows show air currents.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic diagram of SARS outbreak aboard Hong Kong to Beijing flight From reference 31 with permission of the publisher.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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