Airlines and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s terminal operator on Wednesday outlined the precautions they are taking to prevent the spread of Ebola.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines told an Atlanta city council committee that the carrier’s employees are trained on recognizing signs and symptoms, as well as procedures for cleaning aircraft and isolating passengers when necessary. Delta employees can contact its on-call medical contractor STAT-MD when they need assistance.
Delta also said that of the roughly five passengers a day who fly into Atlanta from the Ebola-affected nations of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, about one-quarter to one-third are employees of the CDC.
Southwest Airlines, the second-largest airline in Atlanta, said its employees have also been trained and the airline has a 24/7 bio-hazard cleanup vendor.
The Atlanta Airlines Terminal Corp., which maintain’s the airport’s terminal and concourses, said it has switched to a disinfectant with accelerated hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi; employees have started using stronger nitrile gloves, sometimes two pair; and the company has stocked additional safety glasses, face masks and gowns in case a custodian suspects a case of Ebola. The company has contracted with Bio-One to respond within an hour to clean up bodily fluids of potential Ebola victims.
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