Advice on when to fly if your child has had chickenpox

After a family were ordered to leave their holiday plane at Birmingham Airport because their one-year-old son was recovering from chickenpox, we decided to put together some NHS advice on when you should travel if your child has had the disease.

On the fit for travel NHS website, it says there is very little risk of any infectious disease being transmitted on board an aircraft. The quality of the aircraft cabin air is carefully controlled.

However, transmission of infection may occur between passengers who are seated in the same area of an aircraft. This is no different from being close to someone in any other form of transport.

The NHS website says the airline has the right to refuse travel to any passenger who is unwell and they suspect may be contagious.

It states that anyone who has recovered from an infectious disease, but still shows signs (e.g. spots following chicken pox) is advised to carry a letter from their GP confirming that they are no longer infectious.

If your child has had chickenpox, you can pass it on 1-2 days before onset or rash and this continues until all lesions have crusted (usually about 5 days after).