1. SARS-CoV-2 Testing Before International Airline Travel, December 2020 to May 2021
- Author
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Elie F. Berbari, Aaron J. Tande, Nilay Shah, Carlos del Rio, Peter W. Carter, Kathleen Toomey, Matthew Brawner, Matthew J. Binnicker, Lindsey Jalil, and Henry H. Ting
- Subjects
MXP, Milan Malpensa Airport ,Test strategy ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection ,SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ,Risk Assessment ,US, United States ,law.invention ,CDC, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ,PCR, polymerase chain reaction ,COVID-19 Testing ,international travel ,law ,medicine ,Humans ,FCO, Rome–Fiumicino International Airport ,Antigen testing ,COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019 ,Air travel ,SARS-CoV-2 testing ,High prevalence ,Case detection ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Brief Report ,COVID-19 ,ATL, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport ,General Medicine ,United States ,Air Travel ,Transmission (mechanics) ,Italy ,COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing ,Emergency medicine ,JFK, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport ,Risk assessment ,business - Abstract
Although there have been several case reports and simulation models of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission associated with air travel, there are limited data to guide testing strategy to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission onboard commercial aircraft. Among 9853 passengers with a negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test performed within 72 hours of departure from December 2020 through May 2021, five (0.05%) passengers with active SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified with rapid antigen tests and confirmed with rapid molecular test performed before and after an international flight from the United States to Italy. This translates to a case detection rate of 1 per 1970 travelers during a time of high prevalence of active infection in the United States. A negative molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of international airline departure results in a low probability of active infection identified on antigen testing during commercial airline flight.
- Published
- 2021