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Influenza! Travelling?
Every summer vacation the Chan family travels abroad to relax, re-energize and enjoy life with family members. Mrs. Chan has collected lots of information for overseas travelling activities and made preparations well beforehand. This year, it will be an even more boisterous family gathering because Mr. Chan's brother, who migrated to California, will take a break in Hong Kong and spend the summer holidays with them in Japan. While everyone is in a travelling mood, news of the outbreak of influenza A H1N1 has come like a blast of icy water and has dampened everyone's enthusiasm - their uncle will come from the USA where the epidemic is widespread. Numerous confirmed cases of influenza A H1N1 have also been reported in Japan. The family will have to take the plane and may run the risk of contracting the disease. Mr. and Mrs. Chan are very disturbed and don't know what to do?
- With the Influenza Spreading, is it Dangerous to Take the Plane?
- How is the Virus Transmitted in a Closed Cabin?
- What are the Preventive Measures for Passengers Staying in an Aircraft Cabin?
- Is it Dangerous to Travel Abroad Amidst an Epidemic?
- What should Tourists be Aware of Before and After Heading Off?
- Why is Everyone so Nervous About the Transmission of the Influenza?
Source: UMP Medical Service
With the Influenza Spreading, is it Dangerous to Take the Plane?
The virus for influenza A H1N1 (also known as "Human swine influzena" in Hong Kong) has been spreading all around the world, and confirmed cases have been reported in numerous regions, with infected tourists spreading the disease in other countries. When a case is confirmed, people who travelled in the same plane and close to the infected person may need to be quarantined for a period of time. It seems that travelling by air is extremely dangerous.
However, the World Health Organization does not emphasize that an aircraft is a high risk place for contracting influenza. Just like any type of influenza, influenza A H1N1 may be transmitted or contracted anywhere, such as in buses or in public areas like shopping malls or even in homes. An aircraft is not a particularly risky place.
How is the Virus Transmitted in a Closed Cabin?
Modern aircraft are equipped with advanced air filtration systems but the cabin is nonetheless a confined environment where air is re-circulated unlike the freely circulating air in an outdoor environment. Tourists on a long-haul flight have to stay in the cabin for more than 10 hours. If a virus spreads in the air in the cabin, passengers may be infected with, for example, influenza or tuberculosis. Although the flight will have sterilization and preventive measures in place, tourists should also pay attention to personal hygiene and adopt proper preventive measures, such as washing hands frequently and wearing masks.
Most respiratory infections are transmitted by droplets released when a person sneezes or coughs. Such droplets may be sprayed for up to 3 feet and stick onto objects. Taking the flight environment as an example, the droplets may stick onto the backs of chairs, the armrests, the washroom (door handle or handrail in particular) and the luggage racks above the seats. If a person touches his eyes, nose or mouth after being in contact with any droplets, the virus or bacteria can easily enter the body through the eyes, nasal membranes or the mouth. Therefore, the key preventive measure is to keep both hands as clean as possible and this is also a measure that may be taken effectively and properly by any individual. Research has proved that keeping both hands clean can significantly reduce virus transmission in public areas.
What are the Preventive Measures for Passengers Staying in an Aircraft Cabin?
A number of cases of human to human transmission of the influenza A H1N1 that has been spreading around the globe have been confirmed recently. The route of transmission is believed to be the same as that of seasonal influenza. The virus is mainly transmitted through coughing or sneezing. A person may become infected if he touches his nose or mouth after contact with objects contaminated with the virus. When travelling by air, passengers need to be aware of the following:
| 1. | Wash your hands before eating and drinking. |
| 2. | Clean the hands properly. If you wash your hands with liquid soap, you should rub the soap over your palms, the backs of your hands, between the fingers, and around the thumbs, finger tips and wrists for at least 20 seconds. Rinse hands thoroughly under running water. Dry hands thoroughly with either a clean towel, a paper towel. Avoid direct contact between clean hands and the taps. |
| 3. | Each time after touching public areas (such as the back of any chair, armrests and, in particular, washroom door handles and handrails, and the luggage rack above the seat) with hands, you should apply 70%-80% alcohol-based handrub to sterilize both hands and you should rub it around your palms, the backs of your hands, between fingers, and around the thumbs, finger tips and wrists for at least 20 seconds, until both hands are dry. |
| 4. | The current guidelines do not require the wearing of a mask, but wearing a mask is an effective method of preventing infection by a virus. |
| 5. | Bring your own paper towels. Cover the mouth with a paper towel while sneezing and/or coughing and make sure that used paper towels are properly disposed of in covered garbage bins. |
| 6. | Towels should never be shared. You may bring your own towels. Personal towels must be stored properly after use. |
Is it Dangerous to Travel Abroad Amidst an Epidemic?
Currently, the World Health Organization has not issued a travel warning because that would not help to prevent the spread of the virus given the frequent human interaction nowadays. Previous research has also found that travel restrictions have little impact in preventing the spread of a virus. The main focus at the present stage should be on making a rapid diagnosis and giving proper treatment to patients so as to lessen the impact of the virus on other human beings.
According to the World Health Organization, so long as tourists follow the basic recommendations to prevent the spread of influenza, they will be afforded proper protection and can help in preventing transmission of the virus. Many parents have arranged overseas study tours for their children during the coming summer vacation. Since the government has not issued any guidelines that indicate participation in an overseas study tour is inappropriate, parents should closely watch the development of the epidemic and may arrange for their children to tour regions where the epidemic is less severe and they should also take proper preventive measures. In addition, as overseas medical expenses are high (for tourists in particular), parents or people travelling abroad should have proper travel protection plans in place so as to get the maximum protection if unfortunate enough to become infected with the virus.
What should Tourists be Aware of Before and After Heading Off?
| 1. | The early symptoms of influenza A H1N1 are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Patients may get a fever, feel tired, lose their appetite and develop a cough. Some patients will have a sore throat, running nose, headache, or may even vomit or have diarrhoea. Tourists that have any discomfort or show such symptoms before heading off should delay their travel and arrange for a medical consultation immediately so as to prevent others from becoming infected and avoid spreading the virus. |
| 2. | Before heading off, tourists may visit the websites of the World Health Organization or the Department of Health of Hong Kong, to ensure they are informed of the latest epidemic news and should not go to regions where the epidemic is most severe. |
| 3. | No vaccine for the prevention of influenza A H1N1 is currently available, but an injection of vaccine against seasonal influenza may reduce the risk of complications triggered by human influenza. One should consult a doctor before considering taking a vaccine. |
| 4. | A person should seek medical help immediately if he has any discomfort or shows any of the symptoms mentioned earlier after returning to Hong Kong from an overseas trip. |
| 5. | If a person must go to regions affected by the epidemic outbreak, he should closely watch the epidemic's development in the region and follow the locally recommended hygienic measures, wear a mask and not get too close to any patient during the trip. He should continue to wear a mask for seven days after returning to Hong Kong and closely monitor his physical condition. If he has any influenza symptoms, he should seek a medical consultation at a public clinic or hospital promptly and report in detail his condition and the places he visited. |
Why is Everyone so Nervous About the Transmission of the Influenza?
The swine influenza virus that started the current epidemic outbreak is different from the human H1N1 virus. Its features and future transformation are still under research. Scientists estimate that human beings have little to no immunity against the virus. At the same time, it is expected that chronically ill patients will be more severely infected and may even die. There may be a risk that this influenza which has spread globally within a short period of time may develop into a "pandemic influenza" and this is, therefore, arousing much concern all over the world.
Antiviral drugs Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Relenza (Zanamivir) may improve a patient's condition and shorten the time of illness, but they should only be taken when prescribed by doctors at the onset of the disease. Patients should not take such drugs on their own initiative. No vaccine for the prevention of influenza A H1N1 is currently available.
No current information has shown that a person may become infected with influenza A H1N1 after eating cooked pork or pork products.
Source: UMP Medical Service
