EBOLA Health officials meet plane in Charlotte after report of sick passenger

[msswv123]

Now that we have two nurses infected and one that traveled by plane ...should being out of the country be the only criteria?



By Alexa Ashwell

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Friday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a passenger on a domestic US Airways flight arrived late with a fever of about 100 degrees and complaining of nausea and chills, according to health officials in Mecklenburg County.

MEDIC, airport officials and Health Department officials were notified to ensure all passengers were safe.

An American Airlines spokesman said a woman became ill on US Airways Flight 1829.

"The pilot eventually came on and told us or the captain told us that she did not have Ebola and that she had not been out of the country,” said passenger C.J. Johnson.

The passenger with symptoms did not meet the case definition of Ebola, but in an abundance of caution was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for evaluation, officials said.

Since the passenger did not meet case definition, and no travel from West Africa was involved, the North Carolina State Health Department confirmed she did not have Ebola.

Passengers were stuck on the plane for more than two hours before being transferred to a different plane that took off around 8:45 p.m. for Tampa, Florida

Photo from CJ Johnson, passenger on board US airways flight 1829 to Tampa

Health officials meet plane in Charlotte after report of sick passenger


By Alexa Ashwell
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Friday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a passenger on a domestic US Airways flight arrived late with a fever of about 100 degrees and complaining of nausea and chills, according to health officials in Mecklenburg County.

MEDIC, airport officials and Health Department officials were notified to ensure all passengers were safe.

An American Airlines spokesman said a woman became ill on US Airways Flight 1829.

"The pilot eventually came on and told us or the captain told us that she did not have Ebola and that she had not been out of the country,” said passenger C.J. Johnson.

The passenger with symptoms did not meet the case definition of Ebola, but in an abundance of caution was taken to Carolinas Medical Center for evaluation, officials said.

Since the passenger did not meet case definition, and no travel from West Africa was involved, the North Carolina State Health Department confirmed she did not have Ebola.

Passengers were stuck on the plane for more than two hours before being transferred to a different plane that took off around 8:45 p.m. for Tampa, Florida.

Video at link:


http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/health-officials-meet-plane-charlotte-after-report/nhmWx/

 

[vessie]

The health departments in conjunction with HS had better start double checking the data bases to track the sick persons and to make sure they're not lying.

And I have a *feeling* that pretty soon and with enough of these vomiters that seem to be so prolific this week in the news, there will be Alot of pilots not wanting to fly.

I wonder if they're talking about this over at ALPA? That is the Air Line Pilots Association. Hmmm...

This has been on my mind all day. I think I'll pop over next door tomorrow and see what if any scuttlebutt is a happen'in.

I can really see this happening if too many flights are disrupted by this.

Very frightening thing for the pilots and crew to deal with day in day out.

The might just go AWOL like a lot of nurses plan to do 'if'. V

 

[msswv123]

The health departments in conjunction with HS had better start double checking the data bases to track the sick persons and to make sure they're not lying.

And I have a *feeling* that pretty soon and with enough of these vomiters that seem to be so prolific this week in the news, there will be Alot of pilots not wanting to fly.

I wonder if they're talking about this over at ALPA? That is the Air Line Pilots Association. Hmmm...

This has been on my mind all day. I think I'll pop over next door tomorrow and see what if any scuttlebutt is a happen'in.

I can really see this happening if too many flights are disrupted by this.

Very frightening thing for the pilots and crew to deal with day in day out.

The might just go AWOL like a lot of nurses plan to do 'if'. V

Good idea....here's a post from the flight attendant union:


EBOLA CASE ON DOMESTIC FLIGHT – INFORMATION, SUPPORT, PROTECTIONS
Home » News » Latest News » Ebola Case on Domestic Flight – Information, Support, Protections
October 15, 2014

Ebola_Case.png

Today it has been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the news media is reporting, that a healthcare worker who attended to the Ebola patient in Dallas has contracted the disease. This healthcare worker traveled on a Frontier Airlines flight on October 13. The CDC has begun contact with the passengers and crew who were aboard this flight.

“CDC is asking all 132 passengers on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 Cleveland to Dallas/Fort Worth on October 13 (the flight route was Cleveland to Dallas Fort Worth and landed at 8:16 p.m. CT) to call 1 800-CDC INFO (1 800 232-4636). After 1 p.m. ET, public health professionals will begin interviewing passengers about the flight, answering their questions, and arranging follow up. Individuals who are determined to be at any potential risk will be actively monitored.” – CDC Public Statement

“Frontier responded immediately upon notification from the CDC by removing the aircraft from service and is working closely with CDC to identify and contact customers who may [have] traveled on flight 1143.” – Frontier Airlines Statement

We are working with our AFA leadership at Frontier, Frontier management and the CDC. Our AFA EAP is engaged in both addressing the needs of the affected crew and initiating a coordinated response throughout our network to support AFA members. AFA EAP: 800-424-2406.

AFA International Officers, Air Safety, Health & Security, AFA EAP, AFA Communications and AFA Government Affairs are all engaged on this issue – both in terms of managing the immediate response, reviewing facts as the information evolves and advocating the best provisions to protect AFA members. Our union is also coordinating with the other unions who represent first responders, aviation workers, healthcare professionals and other affected workers.

Continue to remain vigilant and monitor passengers before and during boarding. Symptoms of Ebola include a high fever, severe headache, nausea and/or abdominal pain. If your passengers display these symptoms, report any concerns of a potentially infectious passenger to the captain and follow the reporting procedures as outlined by your airline.

Remember, all bodily fluids should be treated as if they are known to be contagious. If you believe you have been exposed to a virus or infectious disease, follow notification instructions as provided by your airline.

Review your airline’s procedures for blood borne pathogen containment. These procedures are enforced by OSHA.

As aviation’s First Responders and especially during this time of heightened awareness, protect yourselves in addition to your passengers. AFA strongly urges all Flight Attendants to follow the guidance outlined by the CDC. Please be mindful that hand hygiene and other routine infection control measures should be followed at all times.

AFA members should direct all media inquiries to AFA Media Coordinator Corey Caldwell at 202-434-0586.

CDC October 15, 2014 Press Conference with Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

“She should not have flown on a commercial airline,” Frieden said. She did not have nausea or vomit on the plane, so the risk to anyone around her is “extremely low,” Frieden said. “We will, from this moment forward, ensure that no individual monitored for exposure undergoes travel in any way other than controlled movement,” Frieden stated. He said the agency would work with state and local authorities to enforce this restriction.

CDC guidelines for monitoring movement in the event of Ebola exposure:

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/monitoring-and-movement-of-persons-with-exposure.html

Remain focused on information from AFA, CDC guidance and information from our airlines. Speculation on this issue will be detrimental to our efforts to combat any risk to Flight Attendants and the traveling public. Remain calm and informed. We will continue to provide information frequently.


http://www.afacwa.org/ebola_case_on_domestic_flight_information_support_protections