Authorities investigate why Cathay Pacific allowed pilot with measles to fly seven times in four days



Hong Kong’s aviation authority is investigating why Cathay Pacific Airways allowed a pilot with measles to fly seven times in four days, while the city grapples with a growing outbreak of the disease that has prompted health officials to step up vaccinations at the airport.
The city has recorded a five-year high of 20 measles cases so far this year, five of which involve airport and airline staff, and a medical expert has warned of a possible second wave of infections.
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The Civil Aviation Department said on Monday it was seeking answers from Cathay after it emerged that one of the carrier’s Hong Kong-based pilots had flown seven times from March 13 to 16, despite having symptoms of the highly contagious disease.
The airline has so far resisted mounting pressure to provide a full explanation, after the 41-year-old pilot was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung to be treated for measles.

It is against aviation law for anyone to be part of a flight crew “if they know or reasonably suspect their physical or mental condition renders them temporarily or permanently unfit to perform such functions”.
Microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung, an international expert on infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, questioned if the pilot had broken International Air Transport Association rules by flying while sick.
According to the association’s medical manual, pilots are required to obtain a doctor’s opinion on flying during the contagious stage of measles.
“There is a need for the Hong Kong Airport Authority to look into in this,” Ho said.
He also said the scale of the current outbreak had been small. “But I expect more cases to surface, and there could be a second round of infections,” Ho said.
The Airport Authority, meanwhile, has set up an additional vaccination station for staff in consultation with the Centre for Health Protection and the Department of Health, and about 850 people have been vaccinated since last Friday.
Officials said they would leave it to Cathay to explain what measures it was taking.
“We will wait for the company to make a response or follow up,” said Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi.
If necessary, he added, the government would contact the measles vaccine manufacturer to ramp up supply
As for existing precautions being taken at the airport, Centre for Health Protection head Dr Wong Ka-hing confirmed that departing airline employees or passengers did not have to go through temperature screening.
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST



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