From WDSU New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS —Six people in the greater New Orleans area have been infected with the chikungunya virus this summer; all contracted the virus while traveling to the Caribbean.

The WDSU I-Team has learned that an official at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport refused to install recommended signs warning travelers about the virus.

The I-Team obtained internal emails between the airport’s operations manager and the state that show the city may not be doing enough to warn people of the virus.

The state’s epidemiologist calls the airport’s actions a “poor excuse.”

The airport declined state recommendations due to “aesthetic appearance.”

A year and a half ago, the airport received a much-needed facelift – new council and seating space, upgraded restaurants and eating options and an improved baggage claim.

Those preparations came before the city hosted Super Bowl XLVII.

The airport looks aesthetically pleasing, which was a reason leaders didn’t want to listen to state officials at the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals when they were told to put signs up warning people about the virus.

The virus, much like West Nile, is spread to people through mosquito bites can lead to headaches, joint pain, fevers and rashes. There is no vaccine.

The CDC expressed concerns over the virus being imported to new areas in the U.S. by infected travelers. There are 38 confirmed cases in the country.

The I-Team obtained emails sent July 17 from viral respiratory disease coordinator and epidemiologist Julie Hand to Ronaldo Nodal, the airport’s operations manager.

“I have attached the flyer we would like to post at concourses where individuals may be returning from the Caribbean for your review/approval. Please let me know how we should proceed once you talk with customs and your executive staff,” Hand wrote in an email.

Nodal replied, “The best location to place the flyers would be in the airport’s federal inspection station (customs & immigration).”

Nodal suggested the state contact a customs agent.

DHH employee Christine Scott-Waldron replied to Nodal, writing, “We would like to still post at the concourses for individuals whom are returning from the Caribbean by connection through another domestic airport.”

A City Hall representative confirmed that there are very few direct flights from New Orleans to the Caribbean. Most connect through Miami, Atlanta or Houston.

Nodal replied to the email chain to the DHH, saying, “Unfortunately we do not have areas in the terminal or on the concourses that would accommodate the posting of signage, etc. without disrupting the aesthetics of our facility. What I can do is take some of the flyers and give them to our passenger relations team so that they can keep a stack of them at the information counters.”

Nodal’s reply prompted a harsh response from the state’s epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard.

“I think this is a poor excuse (aesthetics!!!!!) for not taking an action that could prevent the importation of a new disease into the us. I would urge you to reconsider,” Ratard wrote.

When WDSU went to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, no signs were visible about chikungunya on the concourse, parking or baggage claim areas.

“I think it would be nice to know to alert people that it is an issue or could be an issue,” said Jennifer Harvard from Slidell. She just returned from the Caribbean on a cruise.

She said she didn’t see any signage at the airport on Monday dealing with the virus.

“I don’t think I would care what it looked like,” Harvard said. “I want to know. I would want to be aware of what is going on.”

Airport spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut said the flyers are throughout passenger information stations and the U.S. Customs area and added, “We are working with the state to have the verbiage reduced to place on the baggage claim BIDS monitors in the rotating ads. We are waiting to hear back from them with what the final shortened message will be. The info desk provides the greatest visibility to airport travelers additionally, with that, our customer service agents can hand to any guests who may say they are going to or coming from the Caribbean.”

“If anything endangers anyone, it should be posted for anyone to see without a problem,” said WDSU Medical Editor Dr. Corey Hebert. “It shouldn’t be about aesthetics or visibility. It should be readily viewable for anyone who comes through that airport.”

The I-Team was told that other airports, such as Baton Rouge and Jackson, did place signage up letting passengers know about the disease.

The DHH said a solution has been made on the issue.

“In lieu of posters being placed on the walls of the concourses, the airport will display the health advisories on their monitors,” a DHH representative said. “We are pleased with this solution and we think it will make the important resource information available for all travelers.”

For more on this story and to see video go to: http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/iteam-airport-refuses-to-post-health-alert-cites-aesthetics/27304192#ixzz39TtzkMNp

IMAGE: www.cruiselawnews.com