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Air Evacuation Under High-Level Biosafety Containment: The Aeromedical Isolation Team

NCJ Number
193261
Journal
Emerging Infectious Diseases Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 1999 Pages: 241-246
Author(s)
George W. Christopher; Edward M. Eitzen Jr.
Date Published
April 1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines the U.S. Army's aeromedical isolation team, including technical aspects of the team's equipment, training, capabilities, and deployments.
Abstract
The purpose of the isolation team is to safely transport patients with potentially lethal communicable diseases for which there are no effective vaccines, chemoprophylaxis, or specific therapies. This rapid response team, which has worldwide airlift capability designed to evacuate and manage patients under high-level containment, also offers a portable containment laboratory, limited environmental decontamination, and specialized consultative expertise. Deployable on rotary and fixed-wing military aircraft, the team conducts in-flight training and can deploy within 6 to 12 hours of notification. Maximum biological containment is designed to prevent transmission of highly hazardous pathogens and is accomplished in two steps. First, the healthcare worker wears a polyvinyl coverall, a separate hood, and vinyl boots. A HEPA-filtered respirator powered by a rechargeable battery supplies air under positive pressure for breathing and cooling. Second, the patient is isolated within a sealed container under negative air pressure maintained by a battery-powered HEPA-filtered ventilation system providing five air exchanges per hour. The article also describes the aeromedical evacuation process. Table, figures, references