MD80 crew had a passenger that was isolated in the aircraft lavatory with suspected sars. The passen...

Attributes
ACN	578135
Time
Date	200303
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ztl.artcc
State Reference	GA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tower : pit.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	578135
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	cabin event : passenger illness non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

After reaching cruise altitude, flight attendant #2 reported a passenger with respiratory distress. Passenger was from hong kong and had been in the united states for about 2 weeks. Flight attendant #2 was very fearful the passenger had sars. He isolated the passenger in the aft lavatory and provided her with portable oxygen. A physician on the airplane examined the passenger. Passenger proved to have no fever, no medical history, no productive cough and the distress was acute onset. Passenger condition had improved while on the oxygen. Both doctor on board and the physician on call recommended emt's meet the flight. I was informed today by ZZZ chief pilot that the passenger was in the aft lavatory for landing. Therefore, I am submitting this report. In the confusion and numerous conversations there may well have been a misunderstanding between myself and flight attendant #2 as to where passenger should be seated for landing. I realize passenger should be in an authority/authorized seat for landing. Crew health concerns are paramount. At the same time, we must not overreact.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD A PAX THAT WAS ISOLATED IN THE ACFT LAVATORY WITH SUSPECTED SARS. THE PAX REMAINED IN THE LAVATORY FOR LNDG.

Narrative: AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALT, FLT ATTENDANT #2 RPTED A PAX WITH RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. PAX WAS FROM HONG KONG AND HAD BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ABOUT 2 WKS. FLT ATTENDANT #2 WAS VERY FEARFUL THE PAX HAD SARS. HE ISOLATED THE PAX IN THE AFT LAVATORY AND PROVIDED HER WITH PORTABLE OXYGEN. A PHYSICIAN ON THE AIRPLANE EXAMINED THE PAX. PAX PROVED TO HAVE NO FEVER, NO MEDICAL HISTORY, NO PRODUCTIVE COUGH AND THE DISTRESS WAS ACUTE ONSET. PAX CONDITION HAD IMPROVED WHILE ON THE OXYGEN. BOTH DOCTOR ON BOARD AND THE PHYSICIAN ON CALL RECOMMENDED EMT'S MEET THE FLT. I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY ZZZ CHIEF PLT THAT THE PAX WAS IN THE AFT LAVATORY FOR LNDG. THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING THIS RPT. IN THE CONFUSION AND NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS THERE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING BTWN MYSELF AND FLT ATTENDANT #2 AS TO WHERE PAX SHOULD BE SEATED FOR LNDG. I REALIZE PAX SHOULD BE IN AN AUTH SEAT FOR LNDG. CREW HEALTH CONCERNS ARE PARAMOUNT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST NOT OVERREACT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

MD80 crew had a passenger that was isolated in the aircraft lavatory with suspected sars. The passenger remained in the lavatory for landing.