Latest U.S. Ebola Case Raises Fear Of Flying For Some
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Concerns over the transmission of the Ebola virus were heightened Wednesday after reports emerged that a second Texas nurse, who was diagnosed with the virus, had traveled on a plane.
But public health experts say the risk of contracting Ebola is very low on commercial flights, provided air travelers observe some simple precautions.
They stress that the virus is not airborne.
Rather, it is contracted through direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is infected.
"It is a particularly unforgiving virus in the sense that just a small amount can infect. If it is in the mucous membranes, the eyes, the nose, the mouth," said Robert Kim-Farley of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Kim-Farley adds masks won't protect passengers.
Because planes are wiped down an average of every 30 days, KCAL9's Serene Branson reports that passengers may be proactive.
Med Jet Assist, a medical aviation transport company, offered the following tips to reduce one's risk:
• Disinfect your area.
• Wash hands and use sanitizers.
• Be mindful of touching your face.
• Cover exposed skin.
Meanwhile, crews at Los Angeles International Airport on board flights arriving from international cities are reportedly being told to be on alert for any passengers who visited West Africa.
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