BA and Virgin to Stop Suspected Swine Flu Victims from Flying
July 19th, 2009Via: Guardian:
Passengers with swine flu will be stopped from boarding flights, two major airlines confirmed today, as the Department of Health warned tourists who contract the illness abroad not to travel home until their symptoms have gone.
Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said they had provided check-in staff and cabin crew with guidance on how to act if they believe a passenger is unwell. Medical advice would be taken to assess the condition of passengers exhibiting symptoms, including having a headache, sore throat, runny nose, and aching muscles.
Virgin Atlantic said those suffering from the condition would be prevented from flying until they could provide a fit-to-fly certificate from their doctor or a hospital.
The new measures come at the height of the summer tourist season, with thousands of families either already on holiday or about to go.
So far, though, BA said there had only been a “very small number of cases” where passengers displaying symptoms of H1N1 had been advised not to travel, and all had complied. The airline said it has a “wide range of contingency plans in place which we can use depending on how the situation may evolve”.
Passengers who catch swine flu abroad, are also being advised not to travel home until they have recovered.
