Science?

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00134-020-05991-x

 

So, perhaps I am an idiot, but where in that "source" does it say anything about recirculation fans, aircraft pacs, hand sanitizing wipes not working etc? The article you linked is referencing more about fatality rates than how the virus may behave on a an aircraft.

 

give me a bit.. you quoted a section of my text about preexisting conditions. There is no study about current sars-cov2 virus but plenty was done on sars-cov1 and also mers. The current thought of transmission through recirculated air is inferred on past studies. I'll see if i can dig up an old study.

 

The WHO just issued this....

https://www.who.int/ith/mode_of_travel/tcd_aircraft/en/

Transmission of communicable diseases on aircraft

Research has shown that there is very little risk of any communicable disease being transmitted on board an aircraft.

The quality of aircraft cabin air is carefully controlled. Ventilation rates provide a total change of air 20–30 times per hour. Most modern aircraft have recirculation systems, which recycle up to 50% of cabin air. The recirculated air is usually passed through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, of the type used in hospital operating theatres and intensive care units, which trap dust particles, bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Transmission of infection may occur between passengers who are seated in the same area of an aircraft, usually as a result of the infected individual coughing or sneezing or by touch (direct contact or contact with the same parts of the aircraft cabin and furnishings that other passengers touch). This is no different from any other situation in which people are close to each other, such as on a train or bus or in a theatre. Highly contagious conditions, such as influenza, are more likely to be spread to other passengers in situations where the aircraft ventilation system is not operating. An auxiliary power unit is normally used to provide ventilation when the aircraft is on the ground, before the main engines are started, but occasionally this is not operated for environmental (noise) or technical reasons. In such cases, when associated with a prolonged delay, passengers may be temporarily disembarked.

Transmission of tuberculosis (TB) on board commercial aircraft during long-haul flights was reported during the 1980s, but no case of active TB disease resulting from exposure on board has been identified subsequently. Nevertheless, increasing air travel and the emergence of drug-resistant TB require continuing vigilance to avoid the spread of infection during air travel. Further information on TB and air travel may be found in the 2008 edition of the WHO publication Tuberculosis and air travel: guidelines for prevention and control.

During the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the risk of transmission of the disease in aircraft was found to be very low.

To minimize the risk of passing on infections, travellers who are unwell, particularly if they have a fever, should delay their journey until they have recovered. Individuals with a known active communicable disease should not travel by air. Airlines may deny boarding to passengers who appear to be infected with a communicable disease.

 

OK, fair enough, thank you for taking the time and finding that.

 

Check out this story posted in the "hanger" forum, basically a TSA Screener at LAX tested positive. No info on how long they'd been contagious. If I were a smart virus that wanted to spread I can't think of a better host than a TSA agent at a major airport.

LAX screener tests positive for coronavirus

 

Great.

10 characters

 

Don’t know about anyone else but I’ve found Sanicoms to be scarce.

 

We've been told by ALPA Sanicoms won't work because the alcohol content is below 60%. The company is refuting that because they obviously don't want to buy anything more.

 

Actually on the manufacture website, http://www.celestecorp.com/sani-com.html, the msds claims 20 to 24% ethanol per package. That include the textile towelette in the equation.

On the technical sheet it claims, "Kills 99.999% of bacteria, within 15 seconds, when used as a hand sanitizer."

I have reached out to Celeste Corp requesting the laboratory data behind that claim and studies. I believe they are just relying on published data for ethanol as a biocide. I doubt they have performed any challenge testing.

Normally in a micro lab, to confirm an effective biocide, it is challenge tested against different bacterium and organisms. High concentration EtOH has been proven to be a very effective biocide in many studies. Note that it requires a high contraction of ethanol.

I have not found any data so far on a sani-com brand towelettes and disinfection so far. When i get some time later I'll check the databases as I don't have time right now.

My personal concerns with sanicoms are as follows.

- the concentration of EtOH delivered to the surface is unknown.
- how much surface area does one towelette effectively cover?
- storage of these towelettes is often less than optimal. Most times I open then up and they are bone dry. This could be a production quality, packaging, storage as and/or stability issue.
-Celeste Corp does not make any claim that it is adequate as a surface disinfectant.

As they are making a therapeutic claim, they are governed under 21CFR and may qualify as a medical device. They should have shone laboratory testing done.

I'll see what I can dig up when I u get some more time.

My personal opinion is that sanicoms are ineffective for disinfection for anything other than a small area, such as the headset mic and maybe the ear cups.