CDC issues alarming new Ebola warning for crews of U.S. airlines

'Treat any body fluid as though it is infectious': CDC issues alarming new Ebola warning for crews of U.S. airlines

• The agency stressed that airlines may 'deny boarding to air travelers with serious contagious diseases that could spread during flight' on Friday
• The rule applies to all U.S. airlines and to foreign airlines flying directly in or out of the country 
• Ebola has infected at least 5,357 people in West Africa and has killed 2,630 of those
• Thousands of U.S. soldiers are slated to enter Africa to help stem the out-of-control outbreak over the next 30 days

By Ap and Josh Gardner for MailOnline

Published: 17:34 EST, 21 September 2014

The Center for Disease Control has issued new, strict guidelines for airline crews in an attempt to stop Ebola from spreading outside West Africa.

Released Friday, the new guidance stresses that flight crews should 'treat any body fluid as though it it is infectious,' as the out-of-control outbreak claims thousands of lives in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal.

The warning comes as 3000 U.S. troops start to deploy to the developing nations to set up facilities and form training teams to help the Africans treat victims of the gruesome disease. 

'TREAT ANY BODY FLUID AS IF IT IS INFECTIOUS': MAIN POINTS OF CDC'S NEW FLIGHT CREW GUIDELINES AMID EBOLA FEARS

The CDC has released new guidelines concerning the handling of sick passengers as Ebola digs its heels deeper into West Africa:

• A U.S. Department of Transportation rule permits airlines to deny boarding to air travelers with serious contagious diseases that could spread during flight, including travelers with possible Ebola symptoms. This rule applies to all flights of U.S. airlines, and to direct flights (no change of planes) to or from the United States by foreign airlines.
• Cabin crew should follow routine infection control precautions for onboard sick travelers. If in-flight cleaning is needed, cabin crew should follow routine airline procedures using personal protective equipment available in the Universal Precautions Kit. If a traveler is confirmed to have had infectious Ebola on a flight, CDC will conduct an investigation to assess risk and inform passengers and crew of possible exposure.
• Hand hygiene and other routine infection control measures should be followed.
• Treat all body fluids as though they are infectious.

Source: CDC.gov 

The CDC stressed in its release that, per U.S. law,  American airlines and foreign airlines traveling non-stop to or from the country are permitted airlines 'to deny boarding to air travelers with serious contagious diseases that could spread during flight.'

In July, a sick Nigeria man managed to board a plane in Liberia and took the deadly virus with him to Lagos.

Officials moved swiftly to tamp out the spread in Africa's most populous city after the man passed Ebola to several healthcare workers.

 

None of his fellow passengers appear to have contracted the disease in-flight.

Nonetheless, fears remain that a traveler could potentially facilitate that spread of Ebola beyond the confines of West Africa. 

Meanwhile, thousands of promised American forces will be moving into Africa over the next 30 days to set up facilities and form training teams to help the Africans treat Ebola victims, the Army's top officer said Friday...

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