Measures to Prevent the Spread of Contagious Diseases by Air Transport
Jörg Siedenburg
After a significant drop caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, air travel recovered and continues to be an important means for exchanging people and goods. More than 4 billion passengers are reported annually. However, contagious diseases can be spread by air traffic as well. Infected patients may use an aircraft and carry microbes to their destination or infect fellow passengers. Aircraft may carry unwanted passengers as well. Insect vectors as blind passengers may carry pathologic agents to the destinations of their vessels. The spread of Dengue Fever, Airport Malaria and Measles are examples.
Regulations on a national and international level, such as the International Health Regulations (IHR), have been implemented to prevent the spread of contagious diseases via international air traffic. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has published guidelines for the disinsection of aircraft to preclude the carriage of arthropods.
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Wehrmedizinische Monatsschrift 11/2024
Captain (Navy MC Res) Dr. med. Jörg Siedenburg
Regional Medical Officer
German Embassy Nairobi
Kurstraße 36, 10117 Berlin
E-Mail: arzt-1@nair.auswaertiges-amt.de
