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Communicable diseases and pandemics have important implications for airlines and their customers. On this page you will find resources for airlines and other travel professionals medical crews.
About Mpox
On 14th August, the WHO Director-General announced that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in other countries in Africa, constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations.
This is the second time mpox has been declared a PHEIC. The first time was in July 2022 as the disease spread rapidly across a range of countries where it hadn't been reported before.
WHO recommends to refrain from implementing any international travel or trade restriction measures.
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FAQ on Mpox
Is mpox new?
No. Mpox is endemic to regions of Central Africa, especially areas around tropical rainforests. In fact, while smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox has continued to occur in countries of central and west Africa, and since May 2022, cases have also been reported from countries without previously documented mpox transmission outside the African region.
How can mpox be transmitted?
- Direct contact with infected animals, such as certain types of monkeys, squirrels and other rodents
- Close contact (especially intimate contact) with a person with mpox, particularly by contact with the disease’s characteristic skin rash.
- Direct contact with contaminated materials.
Transmission can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on genitals. The virus enters the body through broken skin, mucosal surfaces (e.g., oral, ocular, genital, anorectal), or via the respiratory tract.
How can you suspect someone to have mpox?
In some people, the first and/or more obvious manifestation of mpox is a rash whose lesions develop into blisters filled with liquid. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over and fall off. Until this happens and a new, healthy layer of skin has formed, people with mpox are infectious. People can also have other symptoms before or after the rash appears, like malaise, fever, pains.
Symptoms usually begin within a week but typically start anytime between 5 and 21 days after exposure.
How can you prevent mpox?
- Avoiding contact with animals in endemic areas.
- Avoiding close contact with people who are ill, particularly if they have or report having a rash.
- Good hand hygiene, e.g. with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution, in case of direct contact with risk animals or persons who are ill or suspected to be ill.
- Getting vaccinated according to local public health authority criteria for risk groups.
Are any international travel measures recommended?
WHO does not recommend any international travel or trade restriction measures. WHO currently recommends to refrain the implementation of such measures.
Like for other contagious diseases in general, any person feeling unwell, including having a fever with rash-like illness, should avoid travelling.
The usual guidelines for managing suspected communicable diseases apply during travel.
The situation will continue to be monitored at a global level.
Other Communicable Diseases
COVID-19
In May 2023 WHO announced the end of the PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) status of COVID-19 and a move to long-term approach to deal with the ongoing health challenges of COVID-19. IATA statement on the termination of the PHEIC.
> WHO info on COVID-19
Ebola, Marburg and other viral haemorrhagic fevers
There have been a number of outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic fevers in recent years, including Ebola in Uganda in 2022, and two simultaneous outbreaks of Marburg in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania in early 2023. There is an ongoing outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria since early 2024. While there is potential for people with these diseases to travel by air, spread is generally only when they are highly unwell, and occurs through very close contact such as within households, during medical treatment, or at funeral rituals. Any cross-border spread is considered more likely to be through land borders. It is generally considered that these outbreaks should not need to impact international air travel.
Emergency Response Guidelines
Based on experience with different outbreaks, the Emergency Response Plan & Action Checklist (pdf) is meant to be used 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 for airline staff:
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Universal Precaution Kit (2017) (pdf) Crew health precautions in pandemic (2020) (pdf) Maintenance Crew (2017) (pdf) Cargo & Baggage Handlers (2017) (pdf) Passenger Agents (2017) (pdf) |
Cabin Announcement Scripts (2017) (pdf) Cabin Air Quality Brief (pdf) Cabin Crew (2017) (pdf) Cleaning Crew (2017) (pdf) Bird Strike (2017) (pdf) |