In the closed cabin environment of modern airplanes, passengers are frequently exposed to various infectious diseases. These operational guidelines, first published in November 2009 covering tuberculosis, new emerging airborne diseases (e.g. SARS) and meningococcal infections, now also include haemorrhagic fevers (Lassa, Ebola, Marburg), measles and rubella.
The guidelines are accompanied by a technical report which looks at 12 infectious diseases and, by systematically evaluating literature on on-board transmission, attempts to assess the risk of infection via air circulation in airplanes.