Interim Guidance to Assist Airline Flight Deck and Cabin Crew in Identifying Passengers Who May Have Novel H1N1 Flu

April 30, 2009 12:15 AM ET

This document provides interim guidance for domestic and international flights originating from areas affected by novel H1N1 flu and will be updated as needed.

Background

A novel H1N1 flu virus has infected humans in the United States and Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that this novel H1N1 flu virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people. Some infected individuals are known to have traveled on international and domestic flights while infectious.

Flight and cabin crew sometimes encounter ill passengers while performing their duties. When an ill passenger is identified, flight and cabin crew are required to report passengers who meet certain illness criteria to CDC Quarantine Stations.

Interim Recommendations

During the novel H1N1 flu outbreak, extra vigilance is required to identify and report passengers with respiratory symptoms or fever. Any passenger who appears ill, or who reports not feeling well, should be observed or queried for the following signs or symptoms:

• Feeling feverish or temperature greater than 100° F (37.8° C) if measured. For children, feeling warm by parent’s report.
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Stuffy or runny nose

Any passengers observed to have or who report having two or more of these symptoms should be reported immediately to the CDC Quarantine Station in the jurisdiction of the airport where the plane is expected to land. (See the Quarantine Stations information webpage.)

Flight and cabin crew should follow airline guidelines for preventing spread of infection when interacting with these travelers.