Is Travel Safe?
Swine Flu and Travel Safety
Is travel safe with swine flu spreading from country to country? There are no WHO current travel warnings, but WHO is so concerned about the economic impact of a pandemic that they are missing the big picture! Before you consider airline travel or a cruise, make sure you know the facts.
The Spread of H1N1 Swine Flu
Airline Travel Safety
How did H1N1 get from Mexico to other countries like the US? How did it travel from country to country so fast? Well, initially, at the end of April 2009, the swine
flu virus
made its way from Mexico (with its many unreported flu virus cases, at first) to many colleges and universities (mostly US)-- when the students returned to classes following spring break. (Many students spent their holiday in Cancun.) Pockets of swine flu infection started to appear when students infected other students at school, and their family members at home.
New York City subway, swine flu outbreak, May 2009
Photo courtesy of Bill
And, as time went on, new countries started to see swine flu cases. Because I follow the
pandemic flu news
carefully, I can tell you that, in almost every case, without exception, the introduction of the
swine flu
into a country was because of a airline traveller—coming into the country for business or vacation (from an infected country) or returning to their home country (from an infected country). Once the virus has been established in a country, it spreads on its own. But, initially, it NEEDS a WAY to GET THERE!
Does Airport Surveillance
Make Travel Safe?
Japanese airline influenza inspectors
Photo courtesy of Daryl Davis
Several countries, including Japan, have initiated airport surveillance systems to “catch” ill passengers before they enter a country. In theory, they will
quarantine
all sick passengers and prevent the
H1N1 virus
from entering their country. Sometimes the security people just ask people if they feel ill and in other cases, they use thermal detection devices that can tell if someone has a fever. The problems with airport surveillance are: - Some passengers may not tell the truth about whether they have any symptoms.
- Others may not have
swine flu symptoms
because they are silent carriers of a very mild infection.
- Still others may be getting sick and spreading the virus, but not showing symptoms for another day--tomorrow.
In addition, if there is a sick person aboard, how many others have JUST been exposed? They will be carriers also. Airport surveillance does NOTHING to guarantee air travel safety.
Cruise Ships and Travel Safety
Australia is one of the countries with the most swine flu cases. How did they get so many? Cruise ships. People who had been on cruises with swine flu patients carried the flu virus off the ship into Australian communities. The close quarters of cruising on a ship together, made it easy to spread the virus quickly among the passengers. When they disembarked, they took it with them.
Is Travel Safe Right Now?
That's really something you will have to decide for yourself. If you are a businessman and MUST travel for your job, your answer will probably not be the same as that of a family going on vacation to another country.You will need to weigh the risks. Remember that close contact (within 3 feet) with a flu virus carrier or touching a surface contaminated with
flu virus germs
(and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth) are the two most common ways to get the swine flu. Both air travel and cruises put you into close contact with (possibly)ill people and contaminated surfaces. Depending on your circumstances, you will have to decide whether travel is safe for you right now.
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