Member airlines of the International Air Transport Association in general accept very seriously the responsibilities regarding health problems due to travel. They lay down standards in a practical manner which they try and maintain, the principle being to combine maximum safety regulations with minimum restrictive practices to fit in with a successful commercial operation. These standards cover the prevention of spread by not carrying contact passengers who are in a stage of incubation; the prevention of food- and water-borne disease which covers satisfactory food preparation and food handling and also satisfactory water supplies on the aircraft; the prevention of insect-borne disease by adequate aircraft spraying; the prevention of animal-borne disease and the avoidance of, and, if necessary, the adequate treatment of, any animal vermin on the aircraft, and the avoidance of zoonoses carried by animals transported as air freight. In addition to these standards, British Airways run an immunisation centre which provides various pamphlets and booklets which give medical advice. Finally, they make an announcement of the need to take an antimalarial when entering a malarious area.

From the organisations other than the airlines the situation is mainly advisory —the World Health Organisation, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Health Educational Council; all issue booklets and pamphlets to a greater or lesser extent. The medical profession and the pharmacists regrettably tend, on the whole, to be ill-informed and uninterested. The media are often inaccurate and tend to put the stress on less important issues. The travel agents and the inclusive tour operators vary greatly in their attitudes. Some are responsible and some are irresponsible.

All of these points are covered in the article and it is suggested that more post-graduate centres should encourage lectures on the subject of the prevention of imported disease and it should be included in the medical school curriculum along with the lectures on tropical diseases.