Fact Sheet - Avian Flu Questions and Answers

What is IATA’s role in preparing for public health emergencies?

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) is the global authority on public health emergencies
  • IATA coordinates closely with the WHO in several areas of public health to:
    • Provide WHO with operational expertise on air transport issues
    • Disseminate best practice and WHO guidance on public health issues to its member airlines
  • Airlines follow WHO guidelines in line with the recommendations of their national public health authorities

How is IATA helping airlines prepare for a public health emergency?

  • IATA and most airlines have medical expertise on staff
  • IATA disseminates industry best practice among airlines with the assistance of a Medical Advisory Group of airline experts from around the globe
  • The IATA Medical Manual has recently been completely updated and provides basic guidance and industry best practice on health related issues
  • Based on the experience with SARS, IATA developed a series of guidelines or best practices for airline staff in the event of public health emergencies. This material has been reviewed and welcomed by the WHO and includes guidance to cabin crew, cleaning crew and passenger and gate agents, and maintenance staff.

How is IATA preparing the industry to deal with Avian Flu?

  • IATA is coordinating closely with the WHO and is following the WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan
  • At this point the WHO is not recommending any special screening measures for travellers and only cautioning against close contact with poultry

Surely there must be some special measures required?

  • WHO has developed a Global Influenza Preparedness Plan. WHO advises that we are currently at Phase Three: Pandemic Alert Period. This is defined as "Human infections with a new (flu) subtype, but no human-to-human spread, or at most, rare instances of spread to a close contact"
  • At this stage WHO recommendations possibly impacting international travel include the following (from Annex 1 of the WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan):
    • “Information for public on risks and risk-avoidance”
    • Advise travellers with “Outbreak notices” and “Recommend that travellers to areas experiencing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza avoid contact with poultry farms and live animal markets” and “Advice on how to behave if ill after travel in an affected area”
    • “Recommend that ill travellers postpone travel”
    • “Self-health monitoring and reporting if ill, but no restrictions on movement”
    • "Hand-washing and household disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces”
  • There is no recommendation to defer non-essential travel
  • There is no recommendation for entry or exit screening
  • Full details of the WHO plan

Did you learn anything from SARS?

  • The SARS crisis highlighted the need for IATA and WHO to liaise more closely
    • Since SARS, IATA has helped WHO review the International Health Regulations and has provided input into the WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan
    • This cooperation will allow for a more immediate and coordinated reaction to any future public health emergency
  • SARS also demonstrated the airline industry’s ability to implement with governments effective screening at airports
    • Specific screening techniques (thermal) developed for SARS may not be helpful in future public health emergencies
    • Note that WHO does include thermal screening at any phase of the WHO Global Influenza Preparedness Plan