Public health authorities around the world have been addressing the growing concerns about a possible pandemic, arising from the so-called Avian Influenza virus.
Communicable diseases, particularly those with the potential of becoming global pandemics, have important implications for airlines and their customers. A primary goal of IATA in any such event is to ensure a timely flow of accurate information to its Members, the travelling public and the industry as a whole. See our Avian Flu Questions and Answers.
Working with the WHO
IATA works closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global authority on public health emergencies, on a range of public health issues to provide operational expertise to its member airlines.
Avian Influenza:
In addition to extensive factual material, WHO has prepared a Global Influenza Preparedness Plan to assist governments nationally and internationally. It has identified six phases before and during an influenza pandemic. We are currently in phase three where there is no – or extremely rare - human-to-human transmission of the influenza virus.
Tuberculosis (TB):
WHO recently updated its recommendations to minimise the risk of TB and other infectious diseases being passed from passenger to passenger on board aircraft. Read the guidelines for TB prevention and control (pdf) to which IATA collaborated.
Emergency response
Based on the experience with SARS, IATA has has produced an Emergency Response Plan and Action Checklist (pdf), aligned with the WHO Plan, for use by air carriers in the event of a public health emergency.
An important part of this plan involves a series of guidelines and best practices (see column right) for airline staff in the event of public health emergencies.
The United States Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has published guidance for airline cleaning crew, maintenance crew, and baggage/cargo handlers for airlines returning from areas affected by avian influenza. It quotes IATA's 'Guidelines for Suspected Communicable Diseases' as a reference and confirms that "there is no evidence that avian influenza is spread through contact with baggage, packages, or other objects, including items arriving from areas where avian influenza cases have been reported".