Infectious Disease Blog

Emergency preparedness has become a standard in airports all over the world, especially after the Sept. 11 bombings.

But, has anyone ever heard of emergency drills for infectious diseases?

Officials and staff held a drill at Hong Kong International Airport today to test the effectiveness of infectious disease contingency measures, according to news.gov.hk.

Recent human cases of avian flu in the region signify the disease is still a threat to the public.

Airport Management Director Howard Eng told news.gov.hk:

“We must remain vigilant against the possible occurrence and spread of infectious diseases at the airport. Today’s exercise presented an excellent opportunity for all relevant parties to practice our contingency procedures and collaborative responses in the event of an avian flu incident.”

The five-hour drill simulated a sick passenger with apparent avian flu symptoms arriving on a flight carrying 56 passengers and five crew members, according to Xinhuanet.

The sick passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment while other passengers were put under quarantine. The airplane was isolated and disinfected in the mean time.

How many potential cases of avian flu did this emergency drill prevent? How effective would a quarantine be after passengers already spent a flight with the sick passenger?

What do you think?