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ICAO's anti-SARS airport activities
Silvio Finkelstein1, Claus M Curdt-Christiansen
1International Civil Aviation Organization, Montreal, PQ, Canada.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|November 19, 2003
Summary
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established an Anti-SARS Airport Evaluation Project to ensure air travel safety. This initiative successfully inspected five airports, confirming their compliance with protective measures and aiding industry recovery.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Aviation Safety
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) posed a significant threat to public health and air travel.
- Rebuilding traveler confidence was crucial for the recovery of the aviation industry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish protective measures for international airports against SARS.
- To evaluate airport compliance with ICAO's anti-SARS guidelines.
- To develop a framework for managing future communicable disease outbreaks in air travel.
Main Methods:
- Development of protective measures for international airports.
- Inspection and evaluation of airports by ICAO teams.
- Cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) for guidance and validation.
Main Results:
- Phase 1 successfully developed and implemented protective measures.
- Five international airports in Southeast Asia were inspected and found compliant.
- The project is credited with contributing to the recovery of international air travel.
Conclusions:
- The ICAO Anti-SARS Airport Evaluation Project effectively enhanced airport safety and public confidence.
- The project's methodology is adaptable for future communicable disease outbreaks impacting air travel.
- Successful implementation of protective measures is key to maintaining aviation industry resilience.