AP: Airplanes: Spreading disease at jet speed

The Daily Breeze

Friday, October 14, 2005

Airplanes: Spreading disease at jet speed
By Leslie Miller
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Planes provide the quickest way to get from one part of the world to another -- for deadly contagious diseases as well as for people.

In the spring of 2003, the respiratory virus SARS journeyed to five countries in 24 hours after emerging in rural China. Airline and tourism industries lost billions of dollars worldwide because people were afraid to travel and governments ordered flights canceled.

With concerns about bird flu rising, U.S. health and aviation officials are taking steps to guard against a repeat.

More quarantine stations have been set up at airports. A better system is in place for tracking travelers who might have been exposed. Flight crews have instructions to report sick passengers.

More..

Find this article at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/nationworld/articles/1786556.html

These may be places likely to be first hit in an Avian Flu outbreak...I am thinking New York and Toronto will be other places it will manifest first...