Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 386

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Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 386
Summary
Date February 20, 1992
Type Foodborne illness by cholera
Site In flight from Lima, Peru to Los Angeles, California, United States
Passengers 336
Crew 20 [1]
Injuries 75
Fatalities 1
Survivors 355
Aircraft type Boeing 747
Operator Aerolíneas Argentinas
Flight origin Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Last stopover Jorge Chavez International Airport
Destination Los Angeles International Airport

On February 20, 1992, shrimp contaminated with cholera was distributed on Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 386, a flight using a Boeing 747 bound for Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, United States from Ministro Pistarini International Airport near Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a stop at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru. The leg from Lima to Los Angeles carried 336 passengers and 20 crew members.

The contaminated shrimp entered the aircraft in Lima during a cholera epidemic there. Of the passengers, 76 fell ill after landing in Los Angeles. One passenger, a 70-year old man named Anibal Cufre[2], died of the illness.[3][4] Of the 336 passengers on the Lima to Los Angeles leg, the United States was the final destination for 297 of them. Two passengers selected Canada as their final destination, while 37 selected Japan as their final destination. The cholera on the contaminated food did not spread to other areas. [2]

By March 4, 172 passengers and one crew member submitted to cholera tests. Of the people found with cholera, all of them except for two sat in economy class; the first class passengers ate from a menu differing from the economy class menu. By March 5, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials determined that the shrimp contained cholera. As some passengers who fell ill did not eat the food, the officials did not eliminate other possibilities. [1]

An investigation by the Food and Drug Administration highlighted the problem patchwork of regulations for food safety.[5]

The ICAO stated that the responsibility for the safety of the operator organization is not changed by subcontracting of catering or other services to third parties.[6]

[edit] Subsequent developments

Vibrio cholerae: The bacterium that causes cholera (SEM image)
Vibrio cholerae: The bacterium that causes cholera (SEM image)

In 1995, the WHO in consultation with the ICAO and IMO developed explicit agreements on the management of transmission risks for cholera and other infectious diseases by air and sea.[7][8] [9][10][11] In 1998 this led to improvements in aircraft disinfection procedures. [12]

The ICAO now takes the advice of the International Travel Catering Association. [13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Contaminated Food Causes Flight Fatality" 2.
  2. ^ a b "Cholera Kills One and Fells Many on Flight," The New York Times
  3. ^ Contaminated Food Causes Flight Fatality 1.
  4. ^ Airsafe
  5. ^ When you eat on airlines or ships from foreign countries: dine at your own risk - food safety regulations are not standard
  6. ^ The ICAO Safety Management Manual, para 2.1
  7. ^ Bruce Jay Plotkin and Ann Marie Kimball, Designing an International Policy and Legal Framework for the Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases: First Steps, Emerging Infections Diseases Vol 3 No 1, March 1997
  8. ^ Fox J. Convention on international civil aviation. In: The regulation of international commercial aviation: the international structure. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications, Inc. 1996;Booklet 2.
  9. ^ International Civil Aviation Organization. Facilitation: annex 9 to the convention on international civil aviation. Montreal: International Civil Aviation Organization, 1990.
  10. ^ ICAO meeting seeks ways to facilitate international air travel. ICAO Journal May 1995;50:23-4.
  11. ^ ICAO Medical Resolutions
  12. ^ IATA Medical Manual
  13. ^ Peter Jones, Flight Catering ISBN 0-7506-6216-6