Interim Guidance for Air Medical Transport

• Patients with suspected or confirmed VHF should be transported on a dedicated AMT mission.
  • Other patients who do not have VHF should not be onboard.
  • Only people directly involved in patient care or operating the aircraft should be onboard. If people other than those caring for the patient and operating the aircraft, such as a patient's family member, need to be on the aircraft, decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with public health authorities and, as necessary, aviation authorities.
  • Pilots, other necessary crew members, and ground crew should follow routine procedures for AMT missions. Anyone not involved in direct patient care should not participate in movement of the patient onto and off the aircraft and should not enter the designated patient care area.
• If available, a portable isolation unit should be used to contain infectious materials. Use of a portable isolation unit reduces contamination of the aircraft and may simplify cleaning and decontamination after the mission.
• Infection control involves a variety of precautionary measures (see Infection Control for details):
  • Minimize contamination of the aircraft. Disinfect surfaces that are soiled during patient care promptly.
  • Use PPE correctly.
  • Avoid procedures that require the use of sharps or that could create splashes of infectious material.
• In addition to mandatory crew rest requirements, planning should consider the need for breaks for personnel using the recommended PPE.
• International transport of patients with VHF or high-risk exposures must be coordinated with public health, immigration and customs, civil aviation authorities, ground transportation, and healthcare facilities at origin and destination.
  • In the United States, VHF is a disease for which federal isolation and quarantine are authorized.
  • U.S. federal regulations require the commander of an aircraft destined for the United States to report to CDC any deaths and certain illnesses among travelers before arrival. All transport of patients with VHF destined for a U.S. airport must be reported to CDC before arrival, preferably before departure. CDC must also be notified of any persons on board with high-risk exposures or who become symptomatic en route.
  • Reports may be made by contacting the CDC Quarantine Station responsible for the airport of arrival or calling the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at +1 770-488-7100 (24-hour number). For more information, see Guidance for Airlines on Reporting Onboard Deaths or Illnesses to CDC.
  • Reports from flights operating in U.S. airspace provided to the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Services (ATS) units are shared with the CDC EOC.
  • CDC can facilitate communications with U.S. jurisdictions as needed.
• International movement of patients with VHF might additionally require special approvals by aircraft-servicing or fueling, or patient rest-stop locations, and countries that will be overflown, if applicable.
• If the AMT experiences an in-flight incident (such as a change to the patient's condition requiring the flight to divert or requiring that the patient be supported by special handling), the pilot should advise the appropriate ATS unit, to facilitate coordination with the responsible public health authorities and the implementation of any needed air traffic management related support. The pilot also should follow applicable company procedures.
  • For more information, see the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 9, Facilitation, and Document 4444, Procedures for Air Navigation Services – Air Traffic Management.

If transport of more than one patient with the same VHF is planned, the patients can be isolated together as a group.

• Use of a disposable, portable isolation unit is recommended to contain infectious waste (such as soiled absorbent pads, emesis [vomit] basins, portable toilet) and to prevent contamination of the aircraft cabin. Aircraft interiors are complex surfaces that are difficult to clean and disinfect thoroughly and avionic equipment may prohibit the use of surface disinfectants. After use, the portable isolation unit should be discarded. If an isolation unit is not available, a perimeter should be established for designating "clean" and "dirty" areas that identifies where PPE should be put on and removed. The distance will depend on the area required for patient care support as well as designated space for safe removal of PPE. All individuals not providing care should remain at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the patient. Surfaces should be smooth, nonporous, and fluid-impermeable to allow appropriate cleaning and disinfection.
• Materials required for patient care, including PPE, should be stored outside of the isolation area.
• Containers for soiled linen, waste, and reusable equipment should be placed inside the isolation area. Supplies for cleaning spills should be kept in the area, including appropriate disinfectants.
• A portable chemical toilet with a solidifying agent should be dedicated for patient use within the isolation area. The lid of the toilet should be kept closed when not in use.

Personnel who are within the isolation unit or designated isolation area should wear PPE as described in the CDC guidance:

PPE: Confirmed Patients and Clinically Unstable Patients Suspected to have VHF

Outside of the isolation unit or designated isolation area, PPE is not needed.

• Limit use of needles and other sharps as much as possible.
• If use of needles or other sharps is necessary for patient care, handle these items with extreme care and discard them immediately after use in closed, puncture-proof containers.
• Use disposable equipment whenever possible.
• Avoid aerosol-generating procedures.
• Avoid procedures that can generate splashes of infectious material, such as transferring liquid waste from one container to another.

• For recommended PPE and procedures for putting on and removing PPE, refer to PPE: Confirmed Patients and Clinically Unstable Patients Suspected to have VHF.

• Oxygen support may be provided during flight with simple and non-rebreather face masks.

• Mechanical ventilators for patients with VHF should provide HEPA or equivalent filtration of airflow exhaust.

• AMT services should consult their ventilator equipment manufacturer to confirm appropriate filtration capability and the effect of filtration on positive-pressure ventilation.

Management of waste during AMT

• Collect dry solid waste (such as used gloves, dressings) in leakproof biohazard bags.
• Collect waste soaked with blood or body fluids in leakproof biohazard bags or containers.
• Discard sharp items, such as used needles or scalpel blades, immediately after use in puncture-proof sharps containers.
• Store suctioned fluids and secretions in sealed containers. Handling patient body fluids might create splashes and should be avoided.
• To avoid splashing or spills, it is preferable to leave fluids sealed in a container until they can be disposed of safely at the destination. If containers must be emptied, they should be carefully emptied into the dedicated portable patient toilet, taking care to avoid splashes and spills. If splashing or spills cannot be avoided, fluids should be kept in a sealed container until they can be disposed of safely. If necessary, the entire bedpan may be placed in a sealed container.

Disposal of waste after mission completion

• In the United States, the selected hemorrhagic fever viruses, except Chapare virus, are a Category A infectious substance regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR, 49 C.F.R., Parts 171-180).
  • Any item transported for disposal that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with a Category A infectious substance must be packaged and transported in accordance with the HMR.
  • This includes used medical equipment that cannot be decontaminated (e.g., cleaned and disinfected) or PPE, contaminated linens, and other medical waste collected during transport of a patient under investigation (PUI) or with confirmed EVD.
  • For questions on hazardous materials packaging and transportation regulations, contact the U.S. DOT HazMat Information Center at 800-467-4922 (email: infocntr@dot.gov).
• Outside of the United States, follow applicable regulations for waste disposal.
• Plans for waste disposal should be discussed in advance with waste handlers and with a waste company with DOT Special permit 16279 at the airport of arrival and the destination medical facility. A list of companies with the special permit can be obtained by searching the PHMSA Special Permit search page (https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/approvals-and-permits/hazmat/special-permits-search ).

• Recommended PPE should be worn by personnel responsible for cleaning environmental surfaces.
• Environmental surfaces should be disinfected using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered hospital disinfectant that is approved by the aircraft manufacturer. Disinfectants should be from List Q (for Ebola, products from List L can also be used) and should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's labeled instructions. Disinfectant should be available in spray bottles or as commercially prepared wipes for use during transport.
• Any surface that becomes potentially contaminated during transport immediately should be sprayed and wiped clean, or simply wiped clean using a commercially prepared disinfectant wipe.
• A blood spill or spill of other body fluids or substances (for example, urine, feces, or vomit) should be managed through removing bulk spill matter (e.g., with a solidifying agent or absorbent material), cleaning the site, and then disinfecting the site.
  • For large spills, an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant from List Q (for Ebola, products from List L can also be used) is needed to overcome the tendency of proteins in blood and other body substances to neutralize the disinfectant's active ingredient.
  • Instructions for cleaning and decontaminating surfaces or objects soiled with blood or body fluids should be followed to treat the spill before covering with absorbent material or solidifier and wiping or picking up.
  • After the bulk waste is wiped up, the surface should be disinfected as described above.
• All patient-care areas (including stretchers, railings, medical equipment control panels, and adjacent flooring, walls, and work surfaces likely to be directly contaminated during care) should be considered contaminated and therefore cleaned and disinfected after AMT.
• Compressed air or pressurized water should not be used for cleaning the aircraft.
• Areas of the aircraft that were not used for patient care should be cleaned and maintained as per routine practices according to manufacturers' recommendations.
• Contaminated reusable patient care equipment should be placed in biohazard bags and labeled for cleaning and disinfection at the AMT service medical equipment section.
• Reusable equipment should be cleaned and disinfected, according to manufacturer's instructions, by trained personnel wearing correct PPE.
• Use of reusable items with porous surfaces that cannot be easily replaced should be avoided.
• Mattresses and pillows with plastic or other fluid-impermeable covering should be used. Coverings should be disinfected after use or discarded.
• To prevent exposure among laundry staff, all contaminated linens should be discarded.
• Any contaminated nonfluid-impermeable items, such as web seats, seat cushions, pillows, or mattresses should be discarded as Category A infectious waste.

After completing cleaning tasks, including cleaning and disinfection of reusable equipment, cleaning personnel should carefully remove and dispose of PPE as described in CDC's guidance: PPE: Confirmed Patients and Clinically Unstable Patients Suspected to have VHF. They should perform hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after removing PPE. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly soiled.

People who have had a high-risk VHF exposure should not travel by commercial aircraft during the incubation period because of the risk of developing symptoms in transit and potentially exposing others onboard. When transporting someone who has been exposed to VHF but who does not have symptoms, infection control precautions and use of PPE are not required. However, PPE should be available in case it is needed. The person who has been exposed should be monitored carefully, including temperature measurements every 12 hours, for elevated body temperature or subjective fever or other signs or symptoms, compatible with the selected VHFs, including severe headache, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage. The exposed person should immediately notify transport personnel if he or she suspects fever or develops other symptoms. If symptoms develop, recommended infection prevention and control practices should be implemented immediately. Standard practices can be used for cleaning and disinfection of the patient care area and equipment if the patient does not develop symptoms during the flight. CDC has issued guidance for management post-arrival.

AMT service providers should have and exercise a written plan addressing patient handling during inflight or ground emergency situations. Certain activities, such as putting on life vests and rapidly evacuating the patient from the aircraft, may create special exposure risks. Use of PPE must be weighed against time constraints and the nature of the emergency conditions (such as smoke in the cabin, sudden cabin decompression). Standard protocols should be assessed and take into consideration the infectious nature of the patient.

N95 and NIOSH Approved are certification marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) registered in the United States and several international jurisdictions.