Risk communication at airports: dealing with public health threats

Abstract

Air travelling and all activities deriving from it create conditions of potential exposure to and/or transmission of disease. Information and communication are of tremendous importance, particularly in the outbreak of epidemics, at enabling passengers to adopt appropriate preventive behavior so as to limit the spread of the disease. As airport gates are also gates to communication diseases, measures to prevent disease spreading are to be taken particularly there, on the spot. A technical report by the ECDC (10) concluded that: ‘’ Risk communication messages often fail to reach the intended communities, including those people most at risk of the diseases. During air travel, the challenges of reaching travellers is inherently difficult due to factors including the volume of travellers to near and far points across the globe, language barriers and other challenges related to building public trust’’. Research findings stress the need for better risk communication through various information channels to empower frontline providers in order to provide adequate health services and to promote safe and healthy travel. As global health threats continue to emerge, the need for improved communication of health risks and appropriate management strategies rises.