SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — As fears continue to grow over the deadly coronavirus outbreak, researchers at Emory University looked at flights lasting three to five hours and tracked traveler behavior.
The study found that more than 40% of passengers get up during a flight at least once, especially if they have an aisle seat. In order to avoid getting up or spreading a virus, researchers advised to remain seated and avoid moving about the cabin.
Dr. Vicki Hertzberg of Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing co-authored the study that looked into the spread of disease on the plane. According to findings, the best way to not get sick was to pick a window seat and not get up during a flight.
“If somebody is seated either one row ahead or one row behind or two seats lateral to an infectious passenger, they are the most likely to become infected,” Hertzberg said.
A sample seating chart showed the likelihood of travelers getting sick surrounding the infectious passenger. The farther away and less contact the better, but what getting infected via the airplane air?
"The reality is newer aircraft - 50% of the air is fresh and 50% is recycled in the plane," Winn said.
He adds, "there is an actual screening process on that re-circulation for taking particulates out of the air."
Winn said passengers are more likely to pick up a virus in the terminal than you are in the airplane. Researchers sampled the cabin air with 18 common respiratory viruses that are easily transmitted and found all of the samples to be negative.
Overall, it can be much easier to catch a virus in the airport itself. Therefore, frequent hand washing and using hand sanitizer are key.
“You're likelihood of getting sick is stepping into that public arena before the airplane - including the terminal where you're surrounded by thousands of people,” Winn said.
In addition to covering your cough and not touching your face, researchers suggest if you are sick, turn off the overhead air to reduce germ circulation on the plane, as a courtesy to other passengers.