IATA is monitoring closely developments on Swine Influenza in both Mexico and the United States.
At this time, the World Health Organization has not issued a travel advisory and no special action is required of airlines. To help in reviewing your plans for public health emergencies, IATA has developed an Emergency Response Plan & Checklist as well as a number of guidelines, developed with the WHO. We have also prepared a short Q&A with an initial set of questions. It is on the IATA website at:
http://www.iata.org/communicable-diseases
www.iata.org/communicable-diseases. The situation is evolving quickly. We will send out alerts when updates are made.
World Heath Organization (WHO)
* The authority on this issue is the WHO. IATA will take the lead in all industry communications on Swine Influenza based on what WHO has confirmed.
* The WHO main page for Swine Flu is http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en
www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en. This page presents daily media briefings as well as transcripts and audio files of the press
conferences.
* The WHO has a Pandemic Preparedness Plan to deal with such events:
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/influenza/GIP_2005_5Eweb.pdf
* Current Phase of Alert: We are at phase 3, as decided by the WHO Director General on the advice of an emergency committee of experts who met on Saturday April 24. Updates at:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en
* Phase 3 is defined by limited human-to-human transmission. In Phase 3, the recommendations with respect to travel can be summarized as follows: (1) that ill persons postpone travel; (2) that travelers avoid contact with animals on farms and in live markets and (3) that those feeling ill should report symptoms promptly to health authorities. There is currently no advice to governments to implement travel restrictions or airport screening measures.
* An upgrade to Phase 4 would send a strong signal that human-to-human transmission is efficient enough to cause community outbreaks. It is at this level that we could see the WHO issue travel advisories to affected areas and advice on implementing measures such as screening.
* Specific implications of requirements (travel advisories, screening etc) at each phase of the WHO Pandemic Plan, can be found on pages 42 to 46 of the WHO Pandemic Preparedness Plan.
* IATA’s main page on health issues is <http://www.iata.org/health> www.iata.org/health.
* Information specific to Swine Flu and communicable diseases in general is found on: <http://www.iata.org/communicable-diseases>
www.iata.org/communicable-diseases. This is where you will find the Q&A, the Emergency Response Plan & Checklist as well as specific IATA guidance for maintenance crew, cargo and baggage handlers, cabin crew, cleaning crew and passenger agents.
* Airlines are encouraged to review their existing public health emergency plans to ensure preparedness to act quickly should the situation require specific actions.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
* We are also working closely with ICAO which has similar guidance at :
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/med/guidelines
Source: IATA Release.
