On airplanes, people sitting next to the hallway are more likely to catch the flu than other passengers, according to a new study.
Researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have identified the routes by which viruses are transmitted from airplanes.
“With more than 3 billion air passengers each year, the transmission of infectious diseases during flights is a major public health problem,” explains Vicki Stover Hertzberg, one of the authors of thestudy published in the journal PNAS.
Window or hallway
The movements of passengers and crew were scrutinized during five round-trip flights. All the destinations were different. 229 air and surface samples were taken.
Result: “about 40% of passengers never leave their seat, 40% get up once during the flight and 20% get up twice or more”, analyzes Vicki Stover Hertzberg, knowing that people sitting at the edge of the corridor are more willing to get up than those sitting at the edge of the window.
80% of passengers seated near the aisle got up during the five flights, compared to 60% of passengers in middle seats and 40% of passengers in seats near windows. They are therefore less likely to contract an infectious disease such as the flu, which is transmitted especially through seat belt buckles, toilet door handles and contact with crew members. “An infectious crew member will contaminate 4.6 passengers”, estimates the study.
One meter away
In addition, researchers have shown that the risk of transmitting an infectious disease is close to zero after a distance of one meter from the carrier of the virus. Only passengers seated one row in front, one row behind or in the same row as the patient are likely to contract his virus. A change of seat, if it is possible, will then be justified and welcome.
The researchers also recommend disinfecting your hands after they have been in contact with a risk area, such as the tablet hung on the seat in front of the passengers, and keeping them as far away as possible from the eyes and nose. In order to minimize any risk of infection, the risk areas identified by the study should also be cleaned with damp wipes.
A previous one study had previously demonstrated that commercial airlines provide an environment conducive to the spread of pathogens.
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