WHEN a man collapsed at a busy international airport in Lagos —
Africa's largest city — fear was struck into the hearts of
authorities.
Tests showed the man had one of the world's deadliest diseases, the
flesh-eating Ebola virus. And it was spreading.
The traveller, consultant Patrick Sawyer, later died in hospital, one
of approximately 729 people killed by Ebola since it was declared
an outbreakearlier this year. There are fears for passengers who may
have come into contact with Sawyer at the busy airport and on the
plane itself.
But Ebola is far from the only infection that can be spread via air travel.
Here's what you need to know about your health when taking to the skies.
What diseases can you catch from air travel?
Flying is undoubtably a dirty business. Every year, more than a
billion people from the furthest corners of the globe share airports
and aircraft.
According to the Oxford Journal of Infectious Diseases:
"International travel has made the spread of disease via aeroplanes
almost routine. Outbreaks of measles, polio and cholera have been
traced back to countries thousands of miles away. Even Ebola
previously travelled the globe this way: During an outbreak in Ivory
Coast in the 1990s, the virus infected a veterinarian who travelled to
Switzerland, where the disease was snuffed out upon arrival and she
ultimately survived."
Dr Deborah Mills, Medical Director of The Travel Doctorin Australia
told news.com.au: "The level of filth all around us is amazing, there
are simply millions of bacteria and viruses. But we just don't think
about it as we can usually fight them off, unless our immune system is
compromised."
She said anything from the common cold and influenza, to tuberculosis,
norovirus and E coli can be caught on a plane.
"One disease of particular concern right now is the Middle East
Respiratory syndrome coronavirus, in Saudi Arabia which originated
from camels. We just don't know how bad it could get."
However, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO) and the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,the risk of catching a
disease on a plane is similar to that of many public places such as
the office, school or shopping centres, where you're in touch with a
lot of people.
How are diseases spread on planes?
Most diseases are spread through close contact or by breathing in the
particles or droplets coughed or sneezed out from an infected person.
They can also be passed on from touching contaminated surfaces or even
eating contaminated food.
Planes are confined environments, and those sitting within two rows of
a contagious passenger for more than eight hours are at higher
riskof transmission, according to researchers. Aircraft can also
transport disease-riddled animals such as rats or malaria-carrying
mosquitoes.
So how can you prevent getting sick on plane?
"Firstly, don't fly if you're sick. Consider others around you," Dr
Mills said. "If you do fly you may want to consider taking a mask with
you, because if the person next to you starts coughing, you're stuck!
"I've had patients who have caught whooping cough on a plane. It
happens. So it pays to take precautions. Carry hand sanitiser with you
and make sure you wash your hands meticulously after using the toilet
and before you eat. Be mindful of the germs that live on the fabric of
plane seats and the tray tables. And make sure you get your shots."
She said travellers who've been infected on a flight will usually
develop symptoms within the week. Those most at risk include the
pregnant, young children and those who have untreated AIDS.
Don't think it couldn't happen to you.
"People are incredibly blase about the diseases they can catch either
on planes or in the destinations they visit. They think that travel is
perfectly safe. They're used to being in Australia which is clean and
safe and has good health infrastructure.
"But people are getting sick all the time, you just don't hear about it."
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