Europe - EU rules out airline bans for suspected swine flu patients

[FrenchieGirl]

EU rules out airline bans for suspected swine flu patients
LUCIA KUBOSOVA

31.07.2009 @ 09:14 CET

Airlines may not casually prevent potential swine flu sufferers from boarding an aircraft, the European Commission has said, pointing out that sick passengers should get extra compensation if not allowed on a plane.

The message from the EU's key regulator came in a list of advice for passengers for the vacation period, published on Thursday (30 July), just as the commission itself is due to set off for the last summer break.

Travel restrictions will not help prevent the spread of the new flu, argue WHO experts (Photo: Eneas De Troya)

But the warning is also indirectly addressed to airlines amid reports of some companies introducing special restrictions to passengers possibly infected by a new H1N1 virus.

Virgin Atlantic has said it could bar flu sufferers from flying unless they have a certificate from their doctor to confirm they are fit to fly, according to AP.

But Brussels has ruled out such declarations, maintaining that airlines can only take such measures on orders from a public authority.

"If you are denied boarding because you are a suspected case of Influenza A (H1N1) and the measure is neither based on a decision of a sanitary authority or a medical certificate, you should be entitled to reimbursement or rerouting as well as compensation," the commission told potential passengers.

"In other words, the decision to deny boarding should not be purely based on a discretionary and unilateral decision taken by the airline."

According to the World Health Organisation, travel restrictions due to H1N1 virus are not necessary as it is unstoppable and sufferers may be contagious before they show any symptoms.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Thursday (30 July) said there were 1,204 new cases over the past 24 hours across the EU plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including 879 new cases from Germany.

Altogether, the number of people infected in the 31 countries of the region has reached a total of 24,021 with 38 deaths. Globally, the total number of confirmed and reported A(H1N1) cases to date is 177,650, including 1,127 deaths.

In Europe, Britain has recorded the highest rate of confirmed cases at 11,159, with 27 deaths in England and four in Scotland, although national authorities suggest the new flu might have reached a peak in the country.

Among other EU states hit hard are Spain with 1,538 cases and seven deaths, as well as Germany with 5,324 patients. France and Belgium have recently recorded their first fatal cases.

Health ministers from the 27 EU member states are due to meet in October to decide on the practical details of the vaccination programme against swine flu, with Brussels estimating that some 60 million Europeans will need priority vaccination due to higher risk.

So far, the virus remains relatively mild. But experts fear it could mutate to become much strong during winter, the main flu season in Europe.

This may result in a fight between member states for vaccines. Germany, France and the UK have already ordered billions of euros worth of vaccine stockpiles.

[tropical]

Re: Europe - EU rules out airline bans for suspected swine flu patients

Bad. Another catch22, now EU based.

"airlines can only take such measures on orders from a public authority."

And the "public authority" based itself on the EU Commission, which based itself on the famous statement that: "travel restrictions will not prevent the spread of the new flu", which was released also by the WHO experts, who didn't any blanketing when this pandemic starts, and allowes specificaly speaking free roamings.

It is irelevent if tecnicaly travel restrictions will not prevent the spread globaly because it was already spreaded by travel - the important thing is that such wrong measures contribute to augment the quantity of spreading at every world corner, and deminish the time disposable to make enaugh vaccines, to not mention that the decisors put the health of other non-infected passengers at risk, even of deaths - no vaccines yet, antiviral resistance aproaching.

This is an spreading friendly decision.

From what law came this right to whatsoever advisory board to limit the right of an healthy travel to passengers (and to the crew, passing than it further to others also) constricted to board the same plain with conclamated located infected passengers?

Outrageous.

No one "expert" could have the above right to willingly pose other's people health at risk.

This decision could be a good material for passengers claims.

Change, and not allow people to flying illnessed.


#1:
"Airlines may not casually prevent potential swine flu sufferers from boarding an aircraft, the European Commission has said, pointing out that sick passengers should get extra compensation if not allowed on a plane.

The message from the EU's key regulator came in a list of advice for passengers for the vacation period, published on Thursday (30 July), just as the commission itself is due to set off for the last summer break.

Travel restrictions will not help prevent the spread of the new flu, argue WHO experts (Photo: Eneas De Troya)

But the warning is also indirectly addressed to airlines amid reports of some companies introducing special restrictions to passengers possibly infected by a new H1N1 virus.

Virgin Atlantic has said it could bar flu sufferers from flying unless they have a certificate from their doctor to confirm they are fit to fly, according to AP.

But Brussels has ruled out such declarations, maintaining that airlines can only take such measures on orders from a public authority.

"If you are denied boarding because you are a suspected case of Influenza A (H1N1) and the measure is neither based on a decision of a sanitary authority or a medical certificate, you should be entitled to reimbursement or rerouting as well as compensation," the commission told potential passengers."