CDC issues guidelines for airline crews

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
The CDC says that anyone who even appears to be ill needs to be barred from traveling but how does one know if bodily fluid is “contagious”? The CDC says that anyone who reports chills, fever or coughing may be barred from flying and has told cabin crews including cleaning personnel cargo handlers to treat any bodily fluid as if it is Ebola. For an illness that may first mimic the flu, the CDC has certain protocols in place for airline staff.
It is important to note, the CDC says that the U.S. Department of Transportation rule permits airlines to deny boarding to air travellers with serious contagious diseases that could spread during flight, including travellers with possible Ebola symptoms. This rule applies to all flights of U.S. airlines, and to direct flights (no change of planes) to or from the United States by foreign airlines.
In view of the above, the CDC is advising cabin crew should follow routine infection control precautions for onboard sick travelers. If in-flight cleaning is needed, cabin crew should follow routine airline procedures using personal protective equipment available in the Universal Precautions Kit. If a traveller is confirmed to have had infectious Ebola on a flight, CDC will conduct an investigation to assess risk and inform passengers and crew of possible exposure.
“Treat all bodily fluids as if infected” – CDC
Specifically they say that hand hygiene and other routine infection control measures should be followed and that airline staff should treat all body fluids as though they are infectious.
They have asked airlines to look out for anyone who has been to an infected area as well as to look out for symptoms like coughing and have asked airline personnel to ask travellers whether they have had fever and chills of late as well as the typical symptoms including headache, vomiting, diarrheoa, stomach pain, unexplained bruising or other Ebola-type symptoms.
Even if the passenger has not travelled to an Ebola infected country, the CDC is still asking airline personnel to follow routine infection control precautions with a view to keeping Ebola out of the US.
Should a sick person be in flight, the CDC is asking airline personnel to do the following:
• Keep the sick person separated from others as much as possible.
• Wear waterproof disposable gloves before directly touching the sick person, blood, or other body fluids.
• When providing direct care to a sick traveller who originated from a country with an Ebola outbreak, also wear surgical mask (to protect from splashes or sprays), face shield or goggles, and protective apron or gown.
• Do NOT give a surgical mask for someone who is nauseated or vomiting. Wearing a mask could harm a traveller who is vomiting. Give an air sickness bag if traveller is vomiting or reports feeling nauseated.
o Give a plastic bag for disposing used tissues or soiled air sickness bag.
• Give a surgical mask if a sick traveller is coughing or sneezing, if the sick person can tolerate wearing one. If a mask cannot be tolerated, provide tissues and ask the person to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Guidance is also on CDC.gov to assist airline cleaning and cargo personnel on removing the threat of the spread of Ebola and advice on what to do if in contact with a possible Ebola victim. Additional information can be found at CDC infection control on aircraft for cabin crew.