A Viral Trip…
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A Viral Trip… Daisy Ooms Medical Doctor in Communicable Disease Control Public Health Authority Kennemerland, the Netherlands André Jacobi Policy Advisor Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
Transcript of A Viral Trip…
A Viral Trip…
Daisy Ooms Medical Doctor in Communicable Disease Control
Public Health Authority Kennemerland, the Netherlands
André Jacobi Policy Advisor
Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
A Viral Trip
• Interactive discussion
• Aim and objectives
– To stimulate cooperation
– Underline the need for preparedness at Points of Entry.
A Viral Trip
• Split up in four groups
• The moderator will guide you
Message 1
A Boeing 777-300ER, in which 350 passengers are seated, is on its way to an international airport in your country (estimated time of arrival in 3 hours).
On board of the aircraft
• The cabin crew has noticed several passengers suffering from stomach cramping, vomiting and frequently using the toilet.
• Now ill passengers occupy all lavatories; some passengers could not make it to the lavatory in time, which has resulted in vomit and defecation on the ground.
• The cabin crew has notified the pilot about the situation.
Message 2
After arrival the aircraft has come to a standstill. The passengers want to disembark as soon as possible.
Norovirus
“winter vomiting disease”
“stomach flu”
Characteristics • Common cause of gastroenteritis
• Highly contagious
• Multiple ways of transmission
• Stable in the environment (survives up to 2 weeks)
• Resistant to routine disinfection methods
Transmission • Faeco-oral route mouth gut (replication) faeces
• Foodborne – Unhygienic preparation of food – Shellfish from contaminated water.
• Waterborne
• Human-to-human – Hands – Air (aerosolization with vomitus) – Environmental (contaminated) surfaces
Clinical symptoms • Incubation period: 12-48 hours
• Acute onset of symptoms
• Self-limiting disease – Duration of illness: 12-60 hours
– No specific treatment
– Prevention of dehydration (especially in risk-groups: the young and elderly)
• vomiting
• nausea
• headache
• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps
• mild fever
Disinfection
• Stable in the environment: Norovirus survives up to 2 weeks outside the host.
• Resistant to routine disinfection methods
• Disinfection – Cleanse: to reduce viral load
– Disinfectant:
• Alcohol: not effective
• Chloride: not allowed to use in aircrafts
• ???
Conclusions
• Norovirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis
• “Mild” and self-limiting disease no real threat for public health
• But: highly contagious (food, vomit and faeces)
• Resistant to routine disinfection methods challenge for aviation!
• Risk of contamination of passengers on subsequent flights for two weeks
