Where is the Greatest Risk of Infectious Disease Transmission While Onboard an Airplane?

Discussion Airplanesare a global transportation mechanism for the world for passengers and cargo. It is an engine which helps to fuel the global economy. In 2014, over 3.3 billion people traveled to more than 41,000 airports and 50,000 routes across the world. It is possible to travel around the world within about 24 hours. This is shorter than most infectious disease incubation periods. Although entry screening into countries is done, exit screening closer to the source is a better model as noted with the recent Ebola outbreak in west Africa in 2014. Individual infectious disease risk includes the generation rate of the infectious disease, i.e. the source strength, the proximity and duration of the exposure, ventilation, and chance. Most commercial aircraft have cabin airflow is designed to change over 10-15x/hour or more, with internal filtered and recirculated air progressively becoming diluted with incoming external air. The ventilation is designed to flow from side-to-side of the aircraft not down the long axis of the fuselage. High efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) air filters are used which can capture up to 99.97% of 0.1-0.3 micrometer particulate and 100% of larger particles. HEPA filters are not required nor regulated in the US and Europe. The environmental control system is also designed to mitigate external contaminants into the cabin though. Infectious diseases can be transmitted by airborne particulates, large droplets which settle on surfaces (travel 6...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news