Ebola warning: CDC tells airlines to 'treat all body fluids as infectious'

The Washington Examiner ^ | September 21, 2014 | Paul Bedard

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, increasing their warnings on Ebola, is advising airlines and jet staff to treat all body fluids as infectious, even on domestic flights.

“Treat all body fluids as though they are infectious,” said the latest CDC update to airlines. The update notes that if Ebola is suspected, aircraft can be cleaned mid-flight. The update is apparently meant to stress the rights airlines have to block anyone who appears "ill" from boarding.

The agency this week suggested that the Ebola crisis could strike 500,000 by the end of January. Others note that some 200,000 Africans from nations hit by the deadly virus have visas to travel to the United States.

The CDC is getting out in front of what could be a problem in the United States if somebody with the virus slips through security checkpoints overseas and arrives in America. In addition to the new precautions to airlines, the CDC has also provided hospitals and health centers with special protocols on handling people suspected of having Ebola.

Below is the updated CDC airline advisory:

Interim Guidance about Ebola Infection for Airline Crews, Cleaning Personnel, and Cargo Personnel

Updated September 19, 2014

Purpose: To give information to airlines on stopping ill travelers from boarding, managing and reporting onboard sick travelers, protecting crew and passengers from infection, and cleaning the plane and disinfecting contaminated areas.

Key Points:

-- A U.S. Department of Transportation rule permits airlines to deny boarding to air travelers with serious contagious diseases that could spread during flight, including travelers with possible Ebola symptoms. This rule applies to all flights of U.S. airlines, and to direct flights (no change of planes) to or from the United States by foreign airlines.

-- Cabin crew should follow routine infection control precautions for onboard sick travelers. If in-flight cleaning is needed, cabin crew should follow routine airline procedures using personal protective equipment available in the Universal Precautions Kit. If a traveler is confirmed to have had infectious Ebola on a flight, CDC will conduct an investigation to assess risk and inform passengers and crew of possible exposure.

-- Hand hygiene and other routine infection control measures should be followed.

-- Treat all body fluids as though they are infectious.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

We’re gonna need a bigger plane.

PING!

[UCANSEE2]

Do they still have airliners that dump out their toilet waste inflight ?

[UCANSEE2]

Will the ground crews be wearing triple thick hazmat suits while they service the plane ?

[UCANSEE2]

Considering that the human can eject bodily fluids almost 20 feet (sneezing, coughing), how does one keep that far away from the infected, sealed inside a metal tube ?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

...with recirculated air, no less.

[BenLurkin]

If a chunk of blue ice comes through your roof — don’t let it melt in your house.

[ansel12]

One posted theory here, was that the government was going to chemtrail Ebola onto the American people.

[Lurker]

“The CDC is getting out in front of what could be a problem in the United States”

One just has to laugh at this.

[null and void]

The game of Ebola Roulette continues...

*click* spin *click* spin *click* spin…

Eeeee-bolllll-aaaaaa ping!

Bring Out Your Dead

I've had it with these M-Fin' body fluids

on this M-Fin' plane!

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

The purpose of the “Bring Out Your Dead” ping list (formerly the “Ebola” ping list) is very early warning of emerging pandemics, as such it has a high false positive rate.

So far the false positive rate is 100%.

At some point we may well have a high mortality pandemic, and likely as not the “Bring Out Your Dead” threads will miss the beginning entirely.

*sigh* Such is life, and death...

[Smokin' Joe]

Ping…

A link to this thread has been posted on the Ebola Surveillance Thread

[laplata]

LOL!!!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The only logical way to protect air travelers, US citizens, and America from the Ebola virus is golf. Fore!

[Jane Long]

That last pic got me. LOL.

[roadcat]

If in-flight cleaning is needed, cabin crew should follow routine airline procedures using personal protective equipment available in the Universal Precautions Kit.

Some airlines use anti-bacterial cleaning agents, while others simply use ordinary cleaning sprays - they're simply pushing the bacteria around without killing it. United is one of those airlines that don't use anti-bacterial spray, and they have flights and aircrews that go to Africa. Something to think about on your next flight.

[TomGuy]

Considering the time from infestion until symptoms, that cough or sneeze 2-3 weeks ago from another passenger could have been the culprit.

Yet, someone carrying a pair of nail clippers or a granny in a walker get more scrutiny.

[roadcat]

Considering that the human can eject bodily fluids almost 20 feet (sneezing, coughing), how does one keep that far away from the infected, sealed inside a metal tube ?

Glad you clarified that statement. Otherwise, 20 feet, huh?

[TomGuy]

Will the ground crews be wearing triple thick hazmat suits while they service the plane ?

It could be awkward, those stewards and stewardesses trying to serve drinks while wearing hazmat suits.

[Maceman]

If in-flight cleaning is needed, cabin crew should follow routine airline procedures using personal protective equipment available in the Universal Precautions Kit. Some airlines use anti-bacterial cleaning agents, while others simply use ordinary cleaning sprays - they're simply pushing the bacteria around without killing it. United is one of those airlines that don't use anti-bacterial spray, and they have flights and aircrews that go to Africa. Something to think about on your next flight.

Umm . . . it doesn't matter whether they use anti-bacterial sprays or not, since Ebola is a virus.

[Jane Long]

Well. Who didn’t see THIS coming?