UN health agency issues updated guidelines to prevent in-flight transmission of TB

Seeking to prevent the possible airborne transmission of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases from passenger to passenger on board aircraft, the United Nations health agency today issued updated guidelines to further minimize the risk, stipulating the postponement of long-distance travel by people with infectious TB.

Those with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) must postpone any air travel, according to the Tuberculosis and Air Travel guidelines compiled by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

To date, no case of active TB has been identified due to exposure on a commercial aircraft, where the quality of air is high and under normal conditions cleaner than in most buildings. But prolonged journeys of more than eight hours in a confined cabin may involve an increased risk of transmission, similar to other circumstances where people are together in confined spaces.

The guidelines also advise that aircraft ventilation systems should continue to operate when the aircraft is delayed on the ground and the doors closed. If not in operation, ground delays should be kept to less than 30 minutes.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its partners, including WHO, are actively looking at ways to improve the accuracy and availability of passenger information.

As an interim measure, a locator card has been developed. If there is a suspected case of a communicable disease of international importance on board, designated passengers would be asked to fill it out. The card records the name, seat number and emergency contact information.