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 Influenza A(H1N1) pages.
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. WHO Guide on Hygiene and Sanitation in Aviation (pdf)
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Avian Flu:
Avian Flu is another risk area, currently rated phase 3 by WHO.
More on Avian Flu.
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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 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.