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Article: Air travel limit could delay spread of flu: Study's proof: Health records right after 9/11
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- September 12, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON -- Scientists have found the first real evidence that
restricting air travel can delay flu's spread -- a finding that could
influence government plans for battling the next influenza pandemic.
Air travel has long been suspected of playing a role in flu's
gradual spread around the globe each year. But Monday, Boston
researchers said they've finally documented it: The drop in air
travel after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks seemed to delay
that winter's flu season by about two weeks.
"This is the first time that a study's been able to show a direct
link between the numbers of people traveling and the rate of spread
of a virus," said John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at ...