Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Mar 26;6(1):62-5.
doi: 10.2471/WPSAR.2015.6.1.002. eCollection 2015 Jan-Mar.

International Health Regulations (2005) facilitate communication for in-flight contacts of a Middle East respiratory syndrome case, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2014

Poon Kwok-ming  1 , Wong Miu-ling  1 , Leung Yiu-hong  2 , Sin Ka-wai  2 , To May-kei Liza  2 , Chuang Shuk-kwan  2
Affiliations

International Health Regulations (2005) facilitate communication for in-flight contacts of a Middle East respiratory syndrome case, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 2014

Poon Kwok-ming et al. Western Pac Surveill Response J. .

Abstract

The International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) require World Health Organization Member States to notify events fulfilling two of four criteria: (1) serious public health impact; (2) unusual or unexpected event; (3) significant risk of international spread; or (4) significant risk of international travel or trade restrictions. (1) In-flight transmission of infections like severe acute respiratory syndrome is well documented. (2) With the enormous amount of air travel today, the risk of increasing in-flight transmission and subsequent international spread of infections are increasing. Prompt notification and information sharing under the IHR mechanism is critical for effective contact tracing and prompt control measures. We report on a case of in-flight exposure to an infection with significant public health risks that was successfully resolved using IHR (2005) guidelines.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Seating plan of the aircraft from Qatar to Austria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. WHO guidance for the use of Annex 2 of the International Health Regulations (2005). Decision instrument for the assessment and notification of events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008. http://www.who.int/ihr/revised_annex2_guidance.pdf, accessed 19 February 2015.
    1. Olsen SJ, et al. Transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome on aircraft. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003:349–422. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa031349. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Press release: Preparedness Plan for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome launched. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health; 12 June 2014. http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/35026.html, accessed 24 November 2014.
    1. Fearnley E, Ailan L. International Health Regulations (2005): public health event communications in the Western Pacific Region. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal. 2013;4:26–7. doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2013.4.3.003. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. ECDC Technical Report: Risk assessment guidelines for infectious diseases transmitted on aircraft. Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; 2009. http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Vectorborne/ViralHaemorrhagicFever/Guidance/File,..., accessed 19 February 2015.

LinkOut - more resources