Another virus threatens to further undermine the recovery of international travel and the airline industry. Currently, there are outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Guinea. It is a small outbreak. But it is enough to call the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Starting on Thursday, March 4, the CDC will require airlines and operators to start collecting contact information for passengers arriving from both countries.
“Air travel has the potential to transport people, some of whom may have been exposed to a communicable disease, to anywhere in the world in less than 24 hours,”Says the CDC in a statement seen by Simple Flying.
“The ability to identify and locate people in the United States who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as Ebola, abroad is critical to help prevent the spread of the disease in communities in the United States.”
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CDC measures are likely to affect only a small number of travelers
Currently, there are no direct flights between Guinea and the United States. There are also no direct options between the DRC and the United States. But there are complete options. Top-tier airlines like Air France and Emirates fly to Guinea’s Gbessia International Airport. Air France, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines fly regularly to N’djili International Airport, in the DRC, 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 ship its own aircraft to any of the airports.
According to the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an average of 27 passengers arrive in the United States each day from the DRC. A little more, 33 passengers a day, arrive from Guinea. Most are citizens of the United States.
“Experience with previous Ebola outbreaks shows that Ebola can spread very quickly between close contacts and in healthcare settings, often with high lethality rates,” says the CDC.
Airlines must report passenger information directly to CDC
To pick up travelers traveling to other airports, airlines and air carriers must inform the CDC if any of their passengers have been in the DRC or Guinea in the previous 21 days. The CDC will require the passenger’s full name, address while in the United States, primary contact telephone number, secondary or emergency contact telephone number and e-mail address. Unless the airline is transporting the passenger from one of the countries on a direct ticket, this may require disclosure of the passengers in question.
“Having access to travelers’ contact information will allow US health departments and agencies to provide health information, monitor travelers for signs and symptoms of Ebola, and ensure that travelers who develop symptoms are quickly isolated and receive evaluation. and appropriate medical care ”. says the CDC.
Affected passengers must arrive at one of six United States airports
Affected passengers are expected to arrive at one of the six airports in the United States. They are JFK from New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Newark and Los Angeles. If this sounds like a fraud, the CDC points out that 96% of passengers arriving from DRC or Guinea already arrive at one of these airports. By channeling passengers through a small number of airports, health officials can concentrate their resources in some locations.
Currently, the number of Ebola cases in the DRC and Guinea is small. The low number of travelers flying to the United States from any of the countries is also small. But the CDC is taking no chances. It is yet another blow to an already difficult year for airlines trying to fill service seats inside and outside Africa.
Is the CDC doing the right thing by collecting information about passengers recently in the DRC or Guinea? Post a comment and let us know.