PREVENTION OF DISEASES LIABLE TO BE IMPORTED BY AIRCRAFT

INTRODUCTION

Journeys by air from countries where the major ineffective diseases are present like cholera, yellow fever, plague and typhus, etc are endemic to non-infected countries are so soon that are normally transmitted with in the incubation period of these diseases. the administrative authority for the health control of air traffic is based on the international sanitary regulations by the world health assembly in 1951. 

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMANDER OF THE AIRCRAFT

The commander of the aircraft should see that he is not carrying any passenger suffering from an infectious disease. He should see that the passengers and aircrew are fully protected by inoculation and vaccination against diseases that are prevalent in his own country and country of passenger en route and against which protection is available. He should ensure that similarly they are protected against diseases that are to be likely present in the country of destination, and in other countries through which the aircraft is routed. This is essential for the safety of air crew and passengers and also for complying with the convention of international aerial navigation. For this purpose the diseases considered to be ineffective are as mentioned above, and no animal or plant product likely to convey diseases and no living animal or plant should be carried across national boundaries with out special permission of from all concerned. this is very essential to prevent the spread of diseases such as hydrophobia(rabies) etc. to avoid importation and exportation of animals that might become pests.

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER AND TIMELY NOTIFICATION

The effectiveness of the international sanitary regulations depend primarily on the rapid exchange of notification. This is the responsibility of health administrative authority and world health organisation. The health administrations are bound to notify world health organisation(WHO) by means of telegram/signal with in 24 hours. that a local area become an infected local area. Similar information must be sent when evidence is found of yellow fever virus in an area where it was not found previously. First information by the health administration of local infected area must be supplemented by detailed information afterwards and then follow up reports. Deaths and quarantinable diseases must be reported to WHO by the health administration.

CONTROL OF SANITATION IN AERODROMES

The commander of aircraft arriving from abroad must notify any case of death other than accidental. Any case of death suspected quaratinable diseases that has occurred on board to the aerodrome officer by wireless message. On receiving such message the aerodrome officer must notify the medical officer concerned immediately. Infected planes which are coming from infected local areas or those with rodent dying abroad. On such infected aircraft on landing air crew and passengers must not be allowed to go out until the medical officer examines them and declares the plane and crew/passengers free from infection. If there is any case on board showing evidence of infection. must be hospitalized under proper supervision. For yellow fever cases a mosquito proofed ambulance must be used to avoid mosquito bite while transferring, sucking of infected blood with yellow fever virus by the aedes mosquitoes.Yellow fever virus is not imported to India so far.

CASES RELATING TO YELLOW FEVER 

 If an aeroplane shall be regarded as infected with yellow fever, and if it has a case of yellow fever on board, or if there has been on board a case of yellow fever and subsequent to the occurrence of that case, all measures of sanitation have not been taken to the satisfaction of the health officer before arriving in India or live mosquitoes are found on board. Aircraft and cargo shall be disinfected and all infected persons shall be disembarked and isolated to such periods as the health officer may consider necessary. All persons on board shall be medically examined before getting out or under such arrangements may be made by health officer to reduce to a minimum the risk of spread of infection. and any passenger or crew who disembarks and is not in possession of a valid certificate of vaccination against yellow fever shall be segregated until his certificate becomes valid or until a period of not more than 9 days reckoned from the date of last possible exposure to infection has elapsed, whichever occur first.

HYGIENE AND SANITATION IN FLIGHT

Water supply, food, emergency ration, disposal of wastes and ventilation problems of air craft are to be checked and proper action to be done before take off the aeroplane. Disinfection of aircraft is carried out as per the international regulations laid down. These are given in Govt, of India, Indian aircraft manual, 1964. Disinfection of aircraft when considered necessary can be carried out with formalin spray. For the purpose of 5% formalin solution with 5 ml of formalin to a liter of water should be used. The spraying can be done with a hand pump or stirrup pump. The size of  nozzle tip should be capable of producing a flat fan spray of a uniform pattern with a spray angle of 60 degree, and the size the nozzle should be 0.4 mm. All removable articles should be disinfected as usual.