Guardian UK: British Airways and Virgin to stop suspected swine flu victims from flying

[marmar]

from the Guardian UK:




BA and Virgin to stop suspected swine flu victims from flying
Airlines offer guidance to check-in staff to help them prevent customers boarding flights if they appear to have the virus

Caroline Davies and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 19 July 2009 14.37


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. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/19/swine-flu-british-airways-virgin

[inna]

1. doesn't sound like a completely unsensible idea.

"Eight British schoolchildren on a trip to China have now been hospitalised after contracting swine flu, leaving more than 50 of their classmates and teachers quarantined in a hotel."

ok, makes sense.



check out some of the readers' comments, though! :P

"My god, imagine having those idiotic airport workers in the US in charge of screening for swine flu and terrorism; one bad sneeze and you're off to the waterboarding room!!!"

[marmar]

2. I didn't check out the comments.....That one is hilarious.

We'll be the butt of jokes for decades due to the Bush years.

[whatwasthequestion]

3. I agree in the vein that you

probably intended this thread to raise questions and thoughts over casual staff making medical decisions, but must ask, Is "swine flu victims" really what they meant to convey or did a better word escape them while writing the sub-headline? Really, I cannot think of an appropriate wording myself; wondering if that happened to them, too or if they had intended the connotation that goes with "victim".
i.e.,
people ill w/swine flu
people ill with swine flu
swine flu carriers
.......

[Hannah Bell]

4. ridiculous. "if they appear to have the virus" appear? most cases = mild, & mild symptoms

easily masked with cold meds. otoh, allergies, common cold, etc. can "appear" to be swine flu.

if it's a real public health emergency, shut down transport or require tests for all, don't infringe on people's right to travel with ineffective bullshit.