KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL : PUBLIC HEALTH

DEPARTMENT : ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

UNIT NAME : PORT HEALTH

UNIT CODE : HEH 307

REG NO : Q32S/19240/2016

NAME : FAITH CHEBET

TASK : Identify the significance of international Air Transport Association

[IATA] in preventing the spread of public health events of international concern.
Significance of International Air Transport Association [IATA] in preventing the spread of
Public Health events of international concerns.

i. Communication – In case of an event the pilot in command to notify the arrival of

the public health event. Following this procedure will not only comply with public
health and aviation regulation, but also will accelerate procedures on landing and
reduce unnecessary delays.
ii. Providing isolation position – It provides parking position of affected aircraft.
Appropriate parking position should not be remote stand unlike most other
emergency situations that involve arriving aircraft.
iii. Management of affected aircraft- It includes chain of command , use of personal
protective equipment, information to be provided to the passengers, crew and staff
customs and immigration and baggage handling.
iv. Disinfection of aircraft after carriage of an infections – Aircraft should be
disinfected to remove pathogens causing disease. Many disinfectants such as
products containing bleach, cannot be used on aircraft due to their corrosive
properties.
v. Anticipate delay on non-serious case- Most in-Flight health events will not result in
declaration of public health emergency and thought needs to be given to the
acceptable delay to passengers, crew and the affected aircraft that may be involved
in such non-serious cases.
vi. Passenger tracing for close contacts-The passengers to contacts and meditational
documents should be traced on occurrence of public health event. This forms are
found in the passenger locater forms available from World Health Organization and
International Air Transport Association.
vii. Involvement of security personnel- In the event a local procedure should be
developed in collaboration with the relevant security agency.
REFERENCE
Joseph L.K, Coker RK, Thomas M; BTS Air Travel Working Group, Primary Core 2013
Van Herek K, Zuckerman, J,Castelli; Travellers Knowledge , Attitudes and practices on
prevention of infectious diseases 2006
Bourell L, Turner DM. Management of in-flights medical emergency 2010