Abstract:
Air travel has an important role in the spread of viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Aircraft offer an ideal setting for the transmission of ARI because of a closed environment, crowded conditions, and close-contact setting. Numerous studies have shown that influenza and COVID-19 spread readily in an aircraft with one virus-positive symptomatic or asymptomatic index case. The numbers of secondary cases differ markedly in different studies most probably because of the wide variation of the infectiousness of the infector as well as the susceptibility of the infectees. The primary risk factor is sitting within two rows of an infectious passenger. Elite athletes travel frequently and are thus prone to contracting an ARI during travel. It is anecdotally known in the sport and exercise medicine community that athletes often contract ARI during air travel. The degree to which athletes are infected in an aircraft by respiratory viruses is unclear. Two recent studies suggest that 8% of Team Finland members traveling to major winter sports events contracted the common cold most probably during air travel. Further prospective clinical studies with viral diagnostics are needed to understand the transmission dynamics and to develop effective and socially acceptable preventive measures during air travel.
摘要:
航空旅行在病毒性急性呼吸道感染(ARIs)的传播中具有重要作用。由于封闭的环境,飞机为ARI的传输提供了理想的设置,拥挤的条件,和近距离接触设置。大量研究表明,流感和COVID-19很容易在一架有病毒阳性症状或无症状的飞机上传播。在不同的研究中,继发病例的数量显着不同,这很可能是由于感染者的传染性以及感染者的易感性差异很大。主要风险因素是坐在感染乘客的两排内。精英运动员经常旅行,因此在旅行过程中容易感染ARI。在运动和运动医学界,众所周知,运动员在航空旅行中经常会感染ARI。运动员在飞机上被呼吸道病毒感染的程度尚不清楚。最近的两项研究表明,参加大型冬季体育赛事的芬兰队成员中有8%在航空旅行中最可能感染了普通感冒。需要进行病毒诊断的进一步前瞻性临床研究,以了解传播动态,并在航空旅行期间制定有效且社会可接受的预防措施。