[Mother Abigail]

Vietnam Airlines flight attendant, passenger suspected of being infected by mystery illness

Thu Mar 20, 7:35 AM ET

By MARGIE MASON, Associated Press Writer

HANOI, Vietnam - An attendant and a passenger on Vietnam Airlines flights to Hanoi were admitted to a hospital with high fevers, amid concern they may have contracted the mystery illness health officials believe has been spread by air travelers, officials said Thursday.

 Vu Minh Khue of the state Northern Airports Authority said a female flight attendant on a flight from Hong Kong and a female passenger on a flight from Taipei were admitted to Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.


One more flight crew...

[Judith Anne]

Thank you for the ping...seems to be spreading.

[Mother Abigail]

OBSERVATIONS:

With the rising number of tourists returning infected, and the cases of flight crew illness, taken together with the full explanation of the index case exposing (what seems to be) anyone who visited the ninth floor during his stay - we can take a stab at determining just how virulent/infectious this agent is.

At this point it seems less than airborne but more than casual contact. A safe guess might be:

1. Within range of aerosol droplets from sneezes or coughs

2. Skin to skin contact

3. Possible surface transfer (i.e) victim sneezes, wipes nose, presses the 9th floor lift button

Remember that staff use a different elevator


One of our freeper friends here suggested early on that you wash your hands often with soap and warm water. It is still very good advice...