Another virus threatens to further undermine the recovery of international travel and the airline industry. There are currently Ebola outbreaks in both the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Guinea. This is a small outbreak. But it is enough to attract the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). From Thursday, March 4, the CDC will require airlines and airline operators to start collecting contact information from passengers arriving from any country.
‘Air travel has the potential to transport people, some of whom have been exposed to a communicable disease in less than 24 hours.Says the CDC in a statement seen by Simple Flying.
“The ability to identify and track people abroad in the United States who have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as Ebola, is of great importance in preventing the spread of disease in American communities.”
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CDC probably only measures a small number of travelers
There are currently no direct flights between Guinea and the United States. There are also no uninterrupted options between the DRC and the United States. But there are one-stop options. Well-known airlines such as Air France and Emirates fly to Gbessia International Airport in Guinea. Air France, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines regularly fly to the DRC’s N’Djili International Airport outside Kinshasa.
Due to its alliance with Air France, Delta Air Lines has its DL label on many Air France flights to this part of the world. However, Delta does not currently send its own aircraft to any airport.
According to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an average of 27 passengers arrive daily from the DRC in the United States. Somewhat more, 33 passengers daily, arrive from Guinea. The majority are citizens of the United States.
“Experience with previous Ebola outbreaks shows that Ebola can spread rapidly between close contacts and within healthcare settings, often with high mortality rates,” says the CDC.
Airline to report passenger information directly to the CDC
To catch travelers traveling through other airports, airlines and airline operators must report to the CDC if one of their passengers has been in the DRC or Guinea in the preceding 21 days. The CDC requires the full name, address of the passenger in the United States, the primary telephone number, the secondary or emergency number, and the e-mail address. Unless the airline transports the passenger of any country with a continuous ticket, it may be required of the passengers concerned.
“If you have access to travelers’ contact information, US health departments and agencies can provide health information, monitor travelers for signs and symptoms of Ebola, and ensure that travelers who develop symptoms are quickly isolated and receive appropriate medical evaluation and care. “ says the CDC.
Affected passengers must arrive at one of six US airports
Affected passengers will have to arrive at one of the six airports in the United States. They are New York’s JFK, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Newark and Los Angeles. If this sounds like a scam, the CDC points out that 96% of passengers arriving from the DRC or Guinea are already arriving at one of these airports. By treating passengers through a small number of airports, health authorities can concentrate their resources in a few places.
Currently, the number of Ebola cases in the DRC and Guinea is small. The low number of travelers flying from both countries to the United States is also small. But the CDC takes no chances. This is another step in an already difficult year for airlines trying to fill places in and outside Africa.
Is the CDC doing the right thing to gather passenger information if it has recently been in the DRC or Guinea? Post a comment and let us know.