Fear of flying infections exaggerated, study finds

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Fear of flying infections exaggerated, study finds

Tue Jun 10, 12:45 AM ET

 

 

 

The widely-held belief that passengers crowded aboard airliners are

exposed to a high risk of catching infectious diseases is

exaggerated, an Australian government study has found.

 

The belief that the air in planes is full of contaminants is based on

the perception that it is continually recycled with limited input

from outside, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a report

released Tuesday.

 

But if recirculation and filtration systems are working properly, the

risk from flying -- as far as bugs are concerned at least -- should

be no worse than travelling by bus or eating in a restaurant, the

study suggests.

 

" The risk of transmission of infection on board an aircraft is

probably no greater than, and perhaps less than, other environments

where large numbers of people are gathered together, " it says.

 

The bureau noted that the emergence of severe acute respiratory

syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and recent outbreaks of bird flu in Asia had

increased concerns about the risks of air travel.

 

Infectious diseases reported to have been transmitted on board an

aircraft include influenza, tuberculosis and SARS, it said.

 

But considering the number of flights each day, such cases occurred

relatively infrequently.

 

There was also evidence that most of the victims had been infected by

sitting close to a sick passenger and being exposed to droplets from

sneezing or coughing rather than from contaminated recirculated air,

the study found.

 

Outside air entering an aircraft cabin at altitude is essentially

sterile and the airflow pattern and frequent air exchanges minimise

the spread of infections, the report said.

 

In modern aircraft the airflow is from the top of the cabin down to

the floor, where it is vented and either exhausted or re-circulated.

 

" The ventilation system is usually designed so that air entering the

cabin at a given seat row is exhausted at the same seat row.

 

" This limits the amount of air flowing towards the front and back of

the aircraft, " the bureau said.

 

 

Agence France Presse

 

 

Article Link:

http://news./s/afp/20080610/hl_afp/healthairlineaustralia_080

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