What are airlines doing to stop spread of disease
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The holiday travel season is days away. And this year, some passengers may come with some extra baggage of the "viral kind."
Of all places where you don't want to be if someone has H1N1 is on a cramped airplane or bus. There's no doubt with the H1N1 outbreak we're all feeling a little tentative, especially if you're traveling on an airplane.
The concern is real
"First of all it is true you can get infectious diseases while flying or on the train or on the bus," said Dr, Tim Flanigan, Director of Infectious Diseases at The Miriam and Rhode Island Hospitals . "There's been good data showing the risk of infection depends on the proximity or how close you're sitting to the person who might be infected."
Knowing the risk, holiday traveler Carolyn Sears is ready to board her flight prepared.
"I'm vaccinated. We're having a baby so we're lucky we're vaccinated and a whole lot safer," Sears said.
What are airlines doing to keep passengers safe?
Of the airlines contacted, American and United have created new response plans because of H1N1. Both supply all their aircraft with "medical kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitizer wipes, and thermometer strips."
United Airlines said its "aircraft air re-circulation systems are equipped with filters that are hospital grade."
If you have to cancel
If you have to cancel a flight because you have the flu, most airlines require you get a physician's note.However, a refund may not be in the cards. The airline policies haven't changed because of the flu. Most non-refundable tickets can be used for future travel. But most airlines charge a fee if you cancel or change a flight.
Airline crews are given the right to ask passengers too sick to travel to get off the plane; a move doctors couldn't agree with more.
"If you have a temperature over 100 you shouldn't be flying," Dr. Flanigan said. "It doesn't make sense, you're putting others at risk, and it's really not good for your health."
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