I have often wondered the same Sidy. I doubt there is much research on the same.

Hi Sidi,

Here in New Zealand, and Australia I believe, all international flights have to have a current disinsection certificate or be disinsected on arrival. This is a combination of a public health measure and a biological quarantine effort. The actual management is done by the national quarantine service (MPI) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The major health focus is mosquitoes for New Zealand as that is the highest risk vector of disease in our region.

This paper gives some details on known aircraft incursions ( http://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/78(8)995.pdf ) and this set of health documents and this one gives some details on the mosquito control efforts in NZ ( http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/pathways-entry-and-spread-exotic-mosquitoes )

Doesn't really answer your question sorry, although the 'airport malaria' from the WHO paper might point to a potential benefit for disinsection. I hope some of the information may be useful,

Regards,

Josh

Thanks dear Josh for these links about NZ policy.

I can see that the main focus are mosquitos based on previous report on pathway of entry. Do you think that just performing cabine disinsection is enough to ensure biological quarantine ? Some of the vectors might just go through luggages, etc..

I think it will be interesting to conduct a study assessing he cost/benefit of such measure in term of public heath.