Guidelines Applicable To All Communicable Diseases

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) has notified Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain and key federal agencies overseeing aviation safety and health of protective and response measures needed to support aviation's first responders and safe air travel.

"Given the serious nature of the Ebola virus disease and its potentially grave threat to public health and national security, we continue to believe and insist that voluntary measures and mere guidance from public health authorities are inadequate to bring this situation under control," said Sara Nelson, AFA International President. "AFA urges several measures be put into effect immediately through the relevant agencies to ensure that the health of all airline workers and the public at large are protected. Implementing these actions at each of our nation's airlines will also reassure the traveling public and protect our U.S. aviation industry."

AFA's checklist includes responsible actions for managing and containing communicable diseases. By focusing efforts on prevention for all crewmembers, aircraft cleaning, and a collaborative response plan with airline management in the event of an Ebola exposure in-flight, AFA is leading efforts to minimize, contain, and eradicate the risk of Ebola from being further spread through civil aviation.

"The current Ebola outbreak has created a risk for aviation workers across the country. We cannot sit idly by and wait for the situation to disappear. AFA will continue to advocate for all measures necessary to best protect the health of aviation's first responders and the passengers in our care on each flight," said Nelson.

FMI: www.afacwa.org