IATA Aware of International Impact

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it is monitoring events concerning the recent cases of ‘swine influenza’ in Mexico and the U.S. IATA said that on the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a meeting of its Emergency Committee, and subsequently determined that the situation represented a "public health emergency of international concern" under the terms of the International Health Regulation (2005). IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93 percent of scheduled international air traffic.

Guidelines for managing suspected communicable diseases during such public health events have been developed by IATA, in consultation with WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI) and are available on IATA's Aviation and Health pages.

“At the present time, IATA recommends that airlines review their preparedness plans for public health emergency and consider how they may be implemented in the event that the current situation becomes more widespread.  No specific additional measures are currently advised.  Recommendations will be reviewed in light of WHO evaluation of the evolving situation,” IATA said.