The Air Transport Association (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, remains in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) on actions that the U.S. Government is taking to combat the spread of the swine influenza to and within the United States.
This Web page will be continually updated as developments related to swine influenza occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Video
ATA President and CEO James C. May states that neither CDC nor WHO has placed any restrictions on travel. There is also no greater risk when traveling by air than going to school or work. In fact, the quality of cabin air is better than most schools and public buildings because airlines use hospital-grade HEPA filters. Aug. 31, 2009
Related Facts
- The CDC reports, "The United States is not screening travelers who arrive from other countries or depart for other countries."
- Study after study has found that the design of aircraft ventilation systems, including hospital-grade HEPA filters, does not contribute to the spread of disease – in fact, aircraft cabins contain lower levels of airborne contaminants, compared with other indoor spaces. See Facts About Cabin Air
- Swine flu – officially “2009-H1N1”—has spread around the world since it first appeared in Mexico last April; in June, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. The disease has continued to spread in the U.S. over the summer; transmission is expected to accelerate as children return to school in the fall
- Not all of those infected develop symptoms and in most cases the illness is mild. In people with certain pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, neurological disorders), as well as pregnant women and children under 5, the illness can be more severe and even fatal
- There is no evidence that the virus has mutated
- Neither CDC nor WHO has issued any travel advisories related to H1N1 at this time
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