Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Pardon The Germs And Insecticides |
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Posted: September 12 2006 at 7:11pm |
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From WHO
CHAPTER 2 Travel by air: health considerations Full Text Here....
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241580364_chap2.pdf
Communicable diseases
Research has shown that there is very little risk of any infectious disease being
transmitted on board the aircraft. The quality of aircraft cabin air is carefully controlled. Ventilation rates provide a total change of air 20–30 times per hour. Most modern aircraft have recirculation systems, which recycle up to 50% of cabin air. The recirculated air is usually passed through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, of the type used in hospital operating theatres and intensive care units, which trap particles, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Transmission of infection may occur between passengers who are seated in the
same area of an aircraft, usually as a result of the infected person coughing or sneezing or by touch (direct contact or contact with the same parts of the aircraft cabin and furnishings that other passengers touch). This is no different from any other situation where people are close to each other, such as on a train, bus or at a theatre. Highly infectious conditions, such as influenza, are more likely to be
spread to other passengers in situations when the aircraft ventilation system is not operating. A small auxiliary power unit is normally used to provide ventilation when the aircraft is on the ground, before the main engines are started, but occasionally this is not operated for environmental (noise) or technical reasons. In such cases, when associated with a prolonged delay, passengers may be temporarily disembarked. In order to minimise the risk of passing on infections, passengers who are unwell,
particularly if they have a fever, should delay their journey until they have recovered. Airlines may deny boarding to passengers who appear to be infected with a communicable disease. Aircraft disinsection
Many countries require disinsection of aircraft (to kill insects) arriving from
countries where diseases that are spread by insects, such as malaria and yellow fever, occur. There have been a number of cases of malaria affecting individuals
who live or work in the vicinity of airports in countries where malaria is not present, thought to be due to the escape of malaria-carrying mosquitoes transported on aircraft. Some countries, e.g. Australia and New Zealand, routinely require disinsection be carried out in order to prevent inadvertent introduction of species that may harm their agriculture. Disinsection is a public health measure that is mandated by the current
International Health Regulations (see Annex 3). It involves treatment of the interior of the aircraft with insecticides specified by WHO. The different procedures currently in use are as follows:
— treatment of the interior of the aircraft using a quick-acting insecticide
spray immediately before take-off, with the passengers on board; — treatment of the interior of the aircraft on the ground before passengers come on board, using a residual insecticide aerosol, plus additional inflight treatment with a quick-acting spray shortly before landing; — regular application of a residual insecticide to all internal surfaces of the aircraft, except those in food preparation areas. |
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Interesting. I can see alot of potential problems with this if they start spraying while people are on board the flight, some people will have allergic reactions, asthma attacks, skin irritations, etc. Then there are those people like me who do not like to be exposed to any extra chemicals that aren't necessary, we don't fertilize our yard, use insect sprays or anything like that (we do use Off on ourselves when totally necessary). I would not like to automatically have to be exposed to sprays if flying, since I have allergies and asthma. Does anyone know if the US is one of the countries that participates in this activity?
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I don't know what each company does, but I know for a fact that my company does not do the first 2 options. I know they do periodic treatment of aircraft that fly overseas, but I don't know what chemicals they use or how often they use it. I will try to find out. I am sensitive to certain pesticides ad smell them in hotel rooms on occasion and insist on a different room. I have never smelled pesticdes on an aircraft.
http://www.pesticide.org/AirlineSpray.pdf#search=%22pesticide%20application%20delta%20air%20lines%22
This makes me sick. I need a new job.
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So how many people believe that the seat arms, trays, etc are wiped down with disinfectant between flights? The cabin air MAY be set to recycle several times per hour, but cost more fuel to accomplish. How often do you breath stale air that just doesn't seem to have any oxygen in it on a plane? I have no proof, but seriously doubt the aircraft air is filtered down to viral sizes.
One person sneezing could contaminate most of a plane.
Just my opinions.
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If we are good at what we are discussing, we will wipe down our own seats. Carry the disposable wipes and use them for bathrooms also.
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good idea.
..................
I remember they sprayed the hotel rooms in Florida... yikes, we were out
of there.
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You know those blankets and pillows they have on the airplanes? They don't wash them. they just fold them back up, sometimes they put them back in plastic wrap, but they aren't washed.
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So how many people believe that the seat arms, trays, etc are wiped down with disinfectant between flights? "
They never are. The companies are lucky if the cleaners pick up all the trash.
"The cabin air MAY be set to recycle several times per hour, but cost more fuel to accomplish. "
Actually it cost less fuel to recycle the air, that's why the planes are designed that way. Instead of using new air to pressurize the cabin, they use recycled air, the air conditioning packs work less, and it saves fuel because the air is cycled through a filter in the cargo bin, instead of through the airconditioning. It aslo results in less ozone being intraduced into cabin air.
"How often do you breath stale air that just doesn't seem to have any oxygen in it on a plane? I have no proof, but seriously doubt the aircraft air is filtered down to viral sizes. "
The air does have less oxygen in it. the cabin pressure at cruise altitude is generally around 8,000 feet. It's just like standing on an 8000 foot mountain. the partial pressure of oxygen is substantially less than at sea level. I don't know the percentage because the scale is logarithmic with the 50% point at 18,000 feet.
It is filtered to standard hepa filter size, assuming they change the filters when they are supossed to. The comparison to medical / hospital hepa filters is not accurate. Medical hepa filters also contain ultraviolate lights to kill bacteria and viruses in the filter housing, to the best of my knowledge, the hepa filters on the airplanes do not have the ultraviolate lights.
"One person sneezing could contaminate most of a plane.
Just my opinions."
I agree.
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I'll only fly if I'm tightly wrapped in Saran...wearing a mask, goggles, gloves and sporting my own oxygen, what a sight.
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Dlugose
Valued Member Joined: July 28 2006 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 277 |
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That WHO document is not entirely relevant to some of the influenzas; it is more relevant to typical diseases. It mentions SARS which was spread from larger droplet sized particles than H5N1. If you had SARS and coughed, the people in the nearest seats were in danger, or everyone was in more danger if the air filtering were not working. H5N1 has a higher danger from aerosol (tiny) droplet spread, which can travel throughout the plane more easily. In a typical flu epidemic, it is good if you have the ventilation trapping 90% of the viruses, but with a higher virulence and death rate, that is not acceptible with the current H5N1. Another study on the WHO site http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/EA6D9DF3-688D-4316-91DF-5553E7B1DBCD/0/InfectionControlAIinhumansWHOInterimGuidelinesfor.pdf#search=%22aircraft%20h5n1%20site%3Awho.int%22 says:
The best evidence of airborne transmission of influenza in humans comes from a 1979 study of influenza transmission on an aircraft. Passengers, including a passenger who became acutely ill with a new H3N2 influenza strain, were detained on a runway for 4.5 hours. During this time the ventilation system was turned off for 2-3 hours. Although the ill passenger stayed on the plane the entire time, the other passengers and crew were free to come and go. The passengers (including the index case) were eventually separated into two groups and flown to their destination on two other planes. Within 72 hours, 72% of the passengers and crew subsequently developed influenza-like-illness (91% with confirmed influenza). The risk of illness was dependent on the amount of time spent on board. |
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Dlugose RN AAS BA BS Cert. Biotechnology. Respiratory nurse
June 2013: public health nurse volunteer, Asia |
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This is somewhat contradictory. The only way people can come and go is if the airplane is at the gate with the door open, not sitting on a 'runway' ( everyone always says runway, but they really mean a taxiway)
the only time the onboard ventilation system is ever turned off is when the aircraft is at the gate with the door open and the air is pumped in from the jetway air conditioning. In that case, the aircraft ventalation system is off, but the external ventalation system is on. It hs to be, you can't have people in a metal tube with no air, it gets very uncomfortable very quickly.
Also, only the newer aircraft have the hepa filters. Older aircraft do not, but as a result, all the air is exhausted overboard and new air is pumped in. Ther air coming from those little eye vents over your head is recirculated or fresh, or a combo of both.
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mamasjob
Valued Member Joined: May 16 2006 Status: Offline Points: 192 |
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OK.....YUCK....Now I know why I always seem to get sick after I fly....I never stopped to think about it...took it for granted that they were at least washed.
I really like the idea of carrying a disinfectant wipe to use on my seat...and now I will carry on my own travel pillow.
Sincerely, JD
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I read somewhere years ago that you will help prevent air travel
sickness if you have moisture in your nose. The article actually
suggested putting some kind of oil in your nose right before boarding
the plane. If you don't blow your nose during flight there is no
need to re-apply it. Apparently, the oil coats the mucous membranes of
the nose, preventing them from drying out, which prevents the tiny
cracks in the membranes that allow germs to enter the body. We
can still catch something, but why not increase the odds?
They suggested literally coating a q-tip with edible oil (no vaseline, petroleum based products or chemical products) such as olive oil and then rubbing it on the inside of each nostril. I have tried this many times, and not only did I not get sick, but my nose felt more moist and comfortable during flight. I bring an extra 'oiled up' q-tip in a baggie to use in the restroom if in mid-flight my nose seems 'dried out'. If unable to do this, a saline spray would be better than nothing to moisten the membranes. It's kinda embarrasing to always be squirting saline into your nose on a plane, but if you're discreet, hey, its better than getting sick! Of course, none of this will totally prevent getting sick, but I have not been sick after flying for a number of years since trying this, and i used to ALWAYS get sick, especially on long international flights. |
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Survival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces. Bean B, Moore BM, Sterner B, Peterson LR, Gerding DN, Balfour HH Jr. To investigate the transmission of influenza viruses via hands and environmental surfaces, the survival of laboratory-grown influenza A and influenza B viruses on various surfaces was studied. Both influenza A and B viruses survived for 24-48 hr on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic but survived for less than 8-12 hr on cloth, paper, and tissues. Measurable quantities of influenza A virus were transferred from stainless steel surfaces to hands for 24 hr and from tissues to hands for up to 15 min. Virus survived on hands for up to 5 min after transfer from the environmental surfaces. These observations suggest that the transmission of virus from donors who are shedding large amounts could occur for 2-8 hr via stainless steel surfaces and for a few minutes via paper tissues. Thus, under conditions of heavy environmental contamination, the transmission of influenza virus via fomites may be possible. PMID: 6282993 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=6282993&query_hl=4 |
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Our Latest Grade: C-Minus - More Education Needed, Says SDA Clean Hands Week September 17-23 is Time to Take a Refresher Course in Hygiene WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The increased prevalence of contagious skin infections, the threat of pandemic flu and the upcoming cold season prompted The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) to issue its second Clean Hands Report Card(SM), giving America a "C-minus," a downgrade from 2004, when the country received a "C." "It's more important than ever that people understand that clean hands save lives," said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. "It's the places we're at everyday where we need to protect ourselves the most -- at home, at work and at school -- anywhere we come in contact with other people's germs." Among the findings of SDA's 2006 National Cleaning Survey: * 68% of respondents don't wash their hands long enough to effectively remove germs and dislodge dirt (worsened from 54% in 2004). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SDA recommend washing with soap for at least 20 seconds. * 36% surveyed seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (slightly improved from 43% in 2004). One of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or eyes after touching someone or something contaminated with the cold virus. * 31% don't always wash before eating lunch (similar to 2004). That means germs that come from money, door handles and the lunch counter could attract more bugs than just ants to the picnic. SDA (http://www.cleaning101.com) produced the Report Card to raise awareness of National Clean Hands Week (September 17-23), a national health campaign that touts handwashing as the easiest path to staying healthy. The Report Card surveyed Americans on basic hand hygiene practices, such as washing before a meal, after using the bathroom, and after coughing or sneezing. The Report Card not only measured how often Americans wash daily, but for how long, and revealed perceptions of hand hygiene. (A summary of the Survey's other findings are available at http://www.cleaning101.com/handhygiene). More Education Needed According to the CDC, cleaning our hands is the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others. Of those surveyed by SDA, only 50% believe that hand washing is the number one way to prevent colds and flu. And, 31% of respondents wash their hands fewer than seven times on an average day. Ninety-two percent of Americans surveyed said they always washed their hands after using the bathroom, while five percent said they frequently washed, and three percent said they seldom or never washed. There may be a major gap between what people say and what they do. A 2005 observational study commissioned by SDA and the American Society for Microbiology found that just 83% of people washed their hands after using a public restroom. Refresher course on proper hand hygiene! How-to Wash Your Hands to Effectively Remove Germs 1. Wet hands with warm running water prior to reaching for the soap, either in bar or liquid form. 2. Rub hands together to make a lather. Do this away from running water, so the lather isn't washed away. 3. Wash the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under the nails. Continue washing for 20 seconds or more. 4. Rinse hands well under warm running water. 5. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer. 6. Alcohol based hand sanitizers or gels or wipes are useful alternatives if soap and water are not available (for example, when traveling in the car or taxi on the way to a business meeting, before eating an in- flight meal or snack, outdoor work settings, etc.) While routine hand washing is recommended throughout the day, according to SDA, hand washing is vital: * before preparing food; * when eating meals and snacks; * after using the restroom; * after touching animals; * when hands are dirty; and * when you or someone around you is ill. SDA, which has been educating the public about health and hygiene issues since 1926, offers a range of resources for parents, educators, and students at its website: http://www.cleaning101.com. The Clean Hands Report Card(SM) was based on a survey of 1008 American adults (508 men and 500 women). The independent consumer research study was completed in August-September 2006, on behalf of The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), by International Communications Research (ICR). The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. The Soap and Detergent Association (http://www.cleaning101.com), the U.S. Home of the Cleaning Products Industry(SM), is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.SOURCE The Soap and Detergent Associationhttp://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/09-18-2006/0004434808&EDATE=MON+Sep+18+2006,+01:00+PM
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Please edit my last post , I did everything as per normal and been trying to edit the mess that shows on my end ........... please excuse me everyone . Shame that happened was a good article . Cheers candles .
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