Destroying airplane seats of Ebola-infected passengers unnecessary, Centers for Disease Control advises

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for decontaminating an airplane after exposure to the deadly Ebola virus call for the infected passenger's seat and surrounding carpet to be removed and destroyed only if it is "obviously dirty from blood or body fluids."

But "special cleaning" of upholstery, carpets or storage compartments elsewhere in the plane is unnecessary unless they are soiled.

The CDC's "Ebola Guidance for Airlines," posted on the organization's website and updated Wednesday, offer a description of the procedures that likely were used to decontaminate the Frontier Airlines aircraft on which Akron native Amber Vinson traveled a day before she tested positive for Ebola.

The plane in question was to be sent back into service Wednesday afternoon, leaving Cleveland for Atlanta and then on to Denver with travelers on board. But the departure was inexplicably canceled, and later the Airbus A320 flew to Denver without passengers.

Frontier Airlines spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said in an interview Wednesday that the plane was decontaminated three times since Vinson was on board. One of those efforts took place the day before her diagnosis Tuesday. Squyres, however, could not describe exactly how a plane is decontaminated or how the process differs from a typical cleaning.

According to the CDC website, cleaning crews should use disposable protective equipment: waterproof gloves, a surgical mask, goggles or a face shield, a long-sleeved waterproof gown, closed-toe shoes and shoe covers. Rubber boots should be worn if there is an increased risk of splashing or if an area appears highly contaminated with body fluids.

The CDC recommends an EPA-registered disinfectant -- such as bleach or hydrogen peroxide -- to scrub the sick traveler's seat, the seats around it, seat backs, armrests, tray tables, video monitor, light and air controls, and adjacent walls and windows.

Lavatory surfaces, including the door handle, lock, faucet, sink, walls, counter and toilet also must be decontaminated.

The guidelines indicate that special vacuuming equipment or procedures are unnecessary. And it warns against using compressed air, pressurized water or similar procedures, "which might create droplets of infectious materials."

The CDC notes that packages or luggage likely do not pose a risk, though it instructs baggage handlers to avoid touching packages visibly dirty from blood or body fluids and to wash their hands often.

The website states that "the risk of spreading Ebola to passengers or crew on an aircraft is low because Ebola spreads by direct contact with infected body fluids," rather than through the air like the flu.

But the guidelines go on to instruct cabin crews in flight with a sick traveler to keep him or her separated from others as much as possible and to wear full protective gear, including a face shield, gloves and gown when providing direct care.

- Source:  http://www.cleveland.com