BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - Air transport is one of the most likely mechanisms through which a new disease can quickly spread throughout the world.

So says Minister of Health, John Boyce. Speaking at the Fifth CAPSCA-Americas Meetings and Training at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday morning, the health minister said that with air transport being the lifeblood of many businesses, the economic effect of such a public health emergency can be damaging. To that end, he maintained that in addition to the flight crew, public health officials and other health care professionals have a major role to play in the management of infectious diseases transmitted on airlines and must be familiar with guidelines made available by local and international authorities.

“It is important to note that importation by air of a communicable disease could devastate a country’s tourism products and place great strain on local health care systems, and this is so significant to our island state, of course Barbados where tourism is our leading business. The negative impact on the well-being of the general public would without doubt adversely affect the insurance industry too,” he said.