Contact:
Newsfox Desk
Phone: + 43 - 1 - 811 40 - 319
E-Mail: editor@newsfox.com
| Pressbox | 
|
Geneva (pte043/20.05.2003/16:29) - The risk of contracting SARS on board a plane is much lower than originally expected, according to recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) http://www.who.int .
The WHO examined 35 flights taking place up to 12 May, on which passengers and crew were suspected of carrying SARS. Transmission was only confirmed in four cases, and in each case the person had been sitting directly next to an infected passenger.
Presented at the WHO annual meeting, the study further showed that only 16 of over 7,800 confirmed cases of SARS became infected at a time when airlines were not carrying out health checks on passengers. The WHO issued its recommendation to examine passengers on 27 March. The new information could give airlines a glimpse of hope in light of the SARS-related decline in flights to Asia.
At the same time, the WHO cautions that diseases similar to SARS could arise at any time. WHO expert David Heymann told Australian news service ABC that he expects there will be other outbreaks like SARS. He believes a world influenza epidemic such as the one that killed millions in the 20th century is overdue, and that countries must be prepared. (newsfox-special SARS)
(end)
|
|
