Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 174; Flight Crew Total 14000; Flight Crew Type 5147
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
General Police / Security Involved
Human Factors
During cruise Captain and myself were in cockpit. The Relief Pilot was on break in bunk. The Purser informed us a passenger was feeling ill and was in the bathroom. Symptoms were fever; nausea; vomiting. She was told that this passenger and her two travel companions were doctors and had come from an ebola area previously; but it was 22 days ago. The FA felt the doctors were being open and honest with us; and expressed that in their professional opinion (which since they worked in a hot zone would give them good insight) that the illness was NOT ebola related. We notified dispatch of the passenger who in turn notified medlink; company; and customs. The doctors opened the onboard medical kit and use 1 anti-nausea tablet. FA's kept the ill passenger away from other passengers and before landing moved the ill passenger and her companions to rear of aircraft near restroom. Cockpit was informed by dispatch that CDC would board at gate and evaluate the pass before disembarking any other pass. Just prior to the gate; we made PA telling pass that there was an ill passenger and customs has procedures for these events and everyone should remain seated to let them through to the passenger. Took about 15-20 minutes after parking for them to board. Customs and CDC followed their procedure (which took about an additional 35 minutes); collected personal contact information on everyone on board and then began letting passengers leave. The entire process at the gate was slow; with lots of different agencies involved (I saw police; customs; CDC; paramedics - just to name a few); but the passengers were informed via PA from us and the FA's; everyone seemed patient during the process; and we were able to avoid undue worry of passengers.
I was notified approximately mid-flight while on my break that a passenger had become ill. I was not involved with the interaction between the passengers; flight attendants or med-link. I was briefed by the captain that when we arrived that the flight would be met by the CDC and paramedics. After the landing the cdc boarded the aircraft and eventually released the passengers and crew and requested we fill out contact information. We were given an information sheet on having been involved on a flight with a passenger who may have Ebola.
Two B777 First Officers describe the protocol that is involved when a passenger becomes ill in flight and had previously had contact with Ebola patients.