H1N1: Are You Ready?

This article describes the invasiveness of H1N1 and other germs in transit systems and what is being done to protect passengers and employees. Public transportation is viewed as a “pandemic vector” because it enables germs to spread quickly and efficiently as school children, teachers, healthcare workers, public safety workers, and others travel back and forth to schools or businesses. The author notes that schoolchildren in Melbourne, Australia acted as “super spreaders” once schools were finally shut down; children returned to their communities where diagnoses of H1N1 quickly accelerated. Beyond stressing hygiene etiquette, transit systems have substantially stepped up their disinfecting regimens. The author describes Bombardier’s Healthy Transit Program product, which the Toronto Transit Commission has purchased to protect the interiors of its new subway cars. The product is used as an electrostatic fogger that coats the interior of the transit vehicle with disinfectant.

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01147408
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
  • Files: BTRIS, TRIS
  • Created Date: Dec 29 2009 9:29AM