Flying in Planes

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I, also, hate flying and have been in two emergency landings which didn't help.

The first was due to extreme turbulance. People (not me) were barfing all over...

The second time I was flying from Guam and an engine flamed out. We were over the ocean and I got scared. The pilot came on and said that although we were down to two engines, he could fly on one and we were diverting into Tokyo. It was a tense flight.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I, also, hate flying and have been in two emergency landings which didn't help.

The first was due to extreme turbulance. People (not me) were barfing all over...

The second time I was flying from Guam and an engine flamed out. We were over the ocean and I got scared. The pilot came on and said that although we were down to two engines, he could fly on one and we were diverting into Tokyo. It was a tense flight.

 

[MARIS61]

Personally, I'd drive.

Which diseases are most likely transmitted through cabin air?

Influenza. We know that air travel allows individuals from one area of the world to spread a specific type of flu to another and indeed, air travel is probably the chief cause of global spread. But there is less concern about actual in-flight transmission, unless the aircraft is grounded with an inadequate ventilation system. In that case, there have been documented outbreaks. The current recommendations require “that passengers be removed from an aircraft within thirty minutes of shutting off the ventilation system”.

Other airborne diseases:

Meningitis. This can be spread by contact with respiratory secretions. There were 21 reports of suspected travel associated meningitis cases that occurred between 1991 and 2001. It was felt that these were contracted as a result of close proximity of passengers to an onboard contagious individual.

Measles. This too is very contagious and the latest known airborne infection occurred in 2002 when children from an orphanage in China were brought to the US and apparently were contagious at the time of their flight.
Other airborne “large droplet” diseases include:

Tuberculosis. This disease is global; one-third of the world’s population is currently infected. Studies since the mid-1990’s have documented in-flight TB transmission. The largest USA incident occurred when a passenger traveling on a trip from Baltimore to Honolulu affected four of fifteen passengers seated within the closest two rows (they didn’t all develop
TB, but they did have positive TB skin tests). A risk analysis published in 2004 estimated that the overall probability of TB infection during a long air flight is around one in a thousand, when a person with TB symptoms is on the plane. This is similar or perhaps even less than the chance of becoming infected by a person with TB in other confined spaces.

SARS. This is transmitted by large airborne droplets or by direct contact. There has been substantial evidence that in 2003 during the SARS outbreak, transmission of the virus occurred through airplane air to passengers seated within five rows of the initially infected person and that the infection occurred on fairly short flights. (In one three-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing 22 of 120 passengers contracted SARS). Since then, the “epidemic” has dissipated and there have been no major outbreaks of concern.

What about food and water contamination?

Microorganisms that cause food poisoning and gastroenteritis diseases usually are spread by contamination of food or water. These include salmonella, staphylococcus, cholera and a virus called Norwalk-like agent. No food borne or water borne outbreaks have been reported over the past few years, probably because the food is so often pre-packaged and frozen.

The water in on-flight tanks, especially if filled from water sources which are less than “pure” may be contaminated. Long or repeated storage within the tank can, despite best efforts, result in bacterial growth. If you don’t want to drink the water in the country from whence the flight originated, don’t drink the water from the plane tank. Bottled water is always the safest way to maintain hydration.

Vector (mosquito) borne diseases:

Malaria
Dengue fever
Yellow fever
Mosquitoes that carry these diseases can be imported by air. Depending on the carrier and the country that the plane is coming from or going to, a disinfectant may be sprayed into the cabin. The U.S. stopped the practice of spraying while passengers are on board because this too can cause reactions and breathing problems.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15159555/page/2/

 

[barfo]

Personally, I'd drive.

Kind of a tough drive to Alaska in December, no?

barfo

 

[Buzz Killington]

What I tweeted last week: worst part about planes is when your seated you are at asscrack level when people walk by. 8:18 PM Nov 30th from mobile web

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Kind of a tough drive to Alaska in December, no?

barfo

haha yeah.

Hopefully the turbulence isnt too bad. I downloaded a bunch of apps for my ipod touch so hopefully that will keep me busy. Probably will buy a magazine too.