Dirty Places, Part 2: Airplanes
Several years ago, I was a Pediatric Infectious Disease consultant for the company that makes Lysol. One of the members of our committee was a microbiologist who worked for the company. He conducted a clandestine study of airplane cleanliness by secretly taking swabs from the tray tables, bathrooms, air ducts, etc. on several flights around the U.S. The results were VERY eye-opening since several of those cultures grew out coliform bacteria (bacteria from our intestinal tract), and not necessarily found just in the toilet areas. He found it on the tray tables! He also found Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and other disease-causing organisms throughout the plane. That poor man will never be the same again. He now disinfects EVERYTHING on all his flights; carrying his Lysol Spray, of course.
Over the last thirty years, I have flown quite a bit. As a medical provider, I take a particular interest in the habits and mannerisms of others. It is difficult not to notice someone coughing at the back of your head, sneezing on the seats, wiping their snotty noses and stuffing them in the magazine pouch, or watching a mother change a poopy* diaper (assumed to be poopy based on smell alone) on the adjacent seat (or tray table!). Since there are significant penalties for cancelling flights, people think nothing about flying while they are ill. In the close quarters of an airplane cabin microorganisms can be freely shared.
Fuel costs have skyrocketed, so airlines are cutting flights and stuffing even more people in those seats. Flights turn around quickly, so the flight crew only has time to pick up the trash. They do not have time to disinfect (not the same as wiping off) the tray tables. I hope they disinfect the toilets, but something tells me this is not always done, at least to my satisfaction, anyway.
In my Blog about dirty toilets, I mentioned that I have developed an iron bladder over the years. I especially avoid using the toilet on an airplane whenever possible. With a few hundred people sharing a few toilets, they start looking like those porta-potties that you see at the county fair. If you could SEE bacteria with the naked eye, airplane bathrooms would be virtual Petrie dishes.
Unless you are flying with two other friends known to be well, there is a good chance you will be exposed to some infectious illness on your flight. Many airlines do have HEPA filters for the circulating air; some still do not. HEPA filters are good, but they will not filter the wet sneeze of a fellow passenger or the unwashed hands of someone returning from the toilet. Breathing the exhaled air of hundreds of other people in that airborne tunnel is not one of the healthiest environments I could imagine.
Some suggestions to reduce your infectious disease exposure on air flights:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, and avoid touching your eyes or nose - the main entry points for disease-causing microorganisms.
2. Carry some disinfectant wipes for the tray tables and seat arms. It is a good idea to wipe down the window if you are sitting in this particular seat. There can be some odd-looking stuff on that window!
3. On short flights, avoid using the airline toilet. If you must, do so with caution. Short of wearing a Hazmat suit, you are putting yourself at risk. Again, carry those disinfectant wipes with you to the toilet and use them. After carefully washing your hands (again), use a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door again.
4. Notice if your seat-mates are ill. If they are blowing their noses, sneezing, coughing, etc., then be extra, extra careful. If there are empty seats (unlikely), then consider sitting somewhere else.
5. Bring your own magazines.
6. Stay hydrated. When your own mucous membranes dry out, you are more susceptible to respiratory organisms. Drink plenty of WATER, especially on long flights. The air in the cabin is usually dry, so use a saline nasal spray.
When you arrive safely at your destination, you are still at risk. It is not unusual to get ill when you are traveling, since you may not have any acquired immunity to circulating diseases in other communities. We tend to develop herd immunity with our family, friends, and co-workers, but when you are traveling the herd quickly changes. Respiratory viruses (colds) can have an incubation period from 12 to 48 hours, so don't be surprised if you get one of these unwanted gifts on your vacation.
Related Topics: Bacteria Still Onboard Airline Drinking Water, Health Toll on Flight Attendants
Technorati Tags: airplanes, infectious disease, germs
If you're just now joining us, you'll want to read Public Toilets (part 1) and Doctors' Offices (part 3).
Over the last thirty years, I have flown quite a bit. As a medical provider, I take a particular interest in the habits and mannerisms of others. It is difficult not to notice someone coughing at the back of your head, sneezing on the seats, wiping their snotty noses and stuffing them in the magazine pouch, or watching a mother change a poopy* diaper (assumed to be poopy based on smell alone) on the adjacent seat (or tray table!). Since there are significant penalties for cancelling flights, people think nothing about flying while they are ill. In the close quarters of an airplane cabin microorganisms can be freely shared.
Fuel costs have skyrocketed, so airlines are cutting flights and stuffing even more people in those seats. Flights turn around quickly, so the flight crew only has time to pick up the trash. They do not have time to disinfect (not the same as wiping off) the tray tables. I hope they disinfect the toilets, but something tells me this is not always done, at least to my satisfaction, anyway.
In my Blog about dirty toilets, I mentioned that I have developed an iron bladder over the years. I especially avoid using the toilet on an airplane whenever possible. With a few hundred people sharing a few toilets, they start looking like those porta-potties that you see at the county fair. If you could SEE bacteria with the naked eye, airplane bathrooms would be virtual Petrie dishes.
Unless you are flying with two other friends known to be well, there is a good chance you will be exposed to some infectious illness on your flight. Many airlines do have HEPA filters for the circulating air; some still do not. HEPA filters are good, but they will not filter the wet sneeze of a fellow passenger or the unwashed hands of someone returning from the toilet. Breathing the exhaled air of hundreds of other people in that airborne tunnel is not one of the healthiest environments I could imagine.
Some suggestions to reduce your infectious disease exposure on air flights:
1. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, and avoid touching your eyes or nose - the main entry points for disease-causing microorganisms.
2. Carry some disinfectant wipes for the tray tables and seat arms. It is a good idea to wipe down the window if you are sitting in this particular seat. There can be some odd-looking stuff on that window!
3. On short flights, avoid using the airline toilet. If you must, do so with caution. Short of wearing a Hazmat suit, you are putting yourself at risk. Again, carry those disinfectant wipes with you to the toilet and use them. After carefully washing your hands (again), use a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door again.
4. Notice if your seat-mates are ill. If they are blowing their noses, sneezing, coughing, etc., then be extra, extra careful. If there are empty seats (unlikely), then consider sitting somewhere else.
5. Bring your own magazines.
6. Stay hydrated. When your own mucous membranes dry out, you are more susceptible to respiratory organisms. Drink plenty of WATER, especially on long flights. The air in the cabin is usually dry, so use a saline nasal spray.
When you arrive safely at your destination, you are still at risk. It is not unusual to get ill when you are traveling, since you may not have any acquired immunity to circulating diseases in other communities. We tend to develop herd immunity with our family, friends, and co-workers, but when you are traveling the herd quickly changes. Respiratory viruses (colds) can have an incubation period from 12 to 48 hours, so don't be surprised if you get one of these unwanted gifts on your vacation.
Related Topics: Bacteria Still Onboard Airline Drinking Water, Health Toll on Flight Attendants
Technorati Tags: airplanes, infectious disease, germs
If you're just now joining us, you'll want to read Public Toilets (part 1) and Doctors' Offices (part 3).
51 Comments:
Glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way and I always carry wipes with me and the hand santitizer. I claen my seat, seat arms and tray when I travel and I travel a lot. I also use my wipes and or santitizer when ever I pump gas.
It seems to me that airplanes are getting dirtier. I travel with my children, and my pet peeve is the amount of urine sprayed on the floor (and who knows where else) in the very small restrooms. It is not easy to pull down the pants on a 3 year old boy and avoid his clothing hitting the floor....The benefit is I always carry wet wipes.
I always thought that airplanes were a nest for germs. I got the worst cold of my life from a flight I took from Philadelphia to Florida. I would go as far as wearing a mask if I thought it was necessary.
Interesting. I almost always get a cold after flying. I am almost resigned to it, and I view every trip when I don't get sick on vacation as a present.
One thing I always find difficult to follow is the advice to drink a lot of fluids. Especially when it comes along with ad advice to avoid restrooms. I think you can do either one or the other, but I don't see how you can do both.
I am careful about some things, but obviously not careful enough. I have an organ transplant and have a weakened immune system so I am cautious...and, I see, I must be more cautious. Thanks for additional tips I can plan on before out next trip. I'll carry wipes and sanititizer now. another anonymous
This is precisly why I will lbe driving for vacation instead of flying!!!
I returned from a great 10 day visit to Italy within the past 21 days..I returned also with a viral or bacterial infection with such a vengeance that I missed two and a half days of work and haven't felt the same since. The airplanes are hideously dirty. The blankets and head rest covers are re-used. Why are we subjected to this? Don't airlines have standards? kathy
My husband says I am overly cautious as I ALWAYS disinfect my area on a plane, at the gym, in resturants, and other crowded places. My mother has taught me NEVER to sit on a public tiolet, and I never have in all my 28 years. My purse during travel is stocked with sanitizing wipes and I take an anti-viral supplement from the drug store a few hours prior to a flight. Despite all of these precausions, I have still had a problem with food-borne illnesses, as we must eat. One need only observe people leaving the restroom to determine a disturbing and wide-spread trend....people don't wash their hands! Disgusting...what would your mother say? After reading this article I think I will take the whole can of Lysol on my next trip.
I won't fly again. I traveled on a commercial airline and I asked for water to drink. The water was not bottled. It was served in a drinking cup. I really got sick on this short flight and just made it to the airport bathroom.
As an elementary teacher, I've learned many tricks to stay healthy. I have always used Shaklee products to disinfect surfaces. They are non-toxic and definitely effective. I have the lowest absentee rate in my school. When traveling, I soak a couple of lightweight washcloths in a solution of Shaklee "G" & water and I store them in ziplock bags in my carry on to be used on surfaces and my hands. Hopefully, I won't have to use the restroom. For that I use the small spray of the same solution. It works for my whole family. I just sent my son back to the west coast healthy.
I just searched Google for Lysol, travel size. Apparently there isn't a size that small, but this is what I found for a travel size disinfectant spray.
http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID=7487
The name of the product is BioZide, it comes as a 2 oz.pump spray & it is "virucidal, tuberculocidal,fugicidal, bactericidal, pseudomonicidal."
Ive never used it & I have no connection with the manufacturer or the owner of the website.
The site also has other products that might be useful for healty flying.
I hope this helps someone!
I am T minus 6 hours for an international flight. I will take some hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes with me as a lesson learned from this article.
I usually pack a bottle of water and snacks when I fly, which is quite often.
This article was informative and eye-opening.
I've been told not to wash my hands in the bathroom but to use hand sanitizer. The person above probably got sick because they served them water out of the faucet of which I've been told has just as many germs as anything else on a plane. So basically you're not really cleaning your hands when you put them under that faucet - you're really just adding to them!
"In one out of every seven planes, the EPA found water that did not meet federal standards. It found bacteria like coliform and E. coli -- which are often associated with human feces." See http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/19/earlyshow/living/ConsumerWatch/main667690.shtml
Pretty disgusting if you ask me!
thank you for this site...I have traveled 5 times since March and have been sick 5 times. I needed to hear what you have to say.
You people are crazy. Airports, airplanes, public restrooms, etc. have been around forever. There has been no epidemic of illness. No millions infected with diseases. You all are creating the problems you are complaining about. The more you use antibacterial products, studies say, the more resistant to them the bacteria get. Get over yourselves, you germaphonbic freaks.
P.S. How many times did the doctor, who clearly is a paid shill for Lysol, have to mention Lysol by the brand name?
you are wrong....I have been flying for more than 40 years without being ill...I am not creating my travel sickness now. I saved and planned for two years for my trip to Am. Samoa. Was excited to be there, lived there in the past, have visited several times without being sick. No reason to think this trip would be different. I took 1,700 books and 4 computers to remote villages. Very happy time. Got sick there and got sick when I returned home. It was not in my head and I didn't wish it upon myself. You don't know what you are talking about. Judgmental people just like to hear their own voice.
i travel bimonthly, for the past year to england, with my four year old. apart from contracting a terrible cold within three days of arriving back home, i can't complain about an airlines cleanliness. as in all public areas, its only common sense to ensure hygeine by way of carrying wipes,sanitizers etc. i don't think there is a great big threat. it sounds rather hyped up to a unrealistic degree.people have been travelling for years and this is old news.
I happen to agree with those that consider travelling on a plane just another opportunity to be in the public and use common sense -- washing hands, using sanitizer, etc ---have never had the "drastic" results from flying that some have --guess my system is better - - but I do take some common sense precautions --wish everyone would!! mjw
yes...three days after I land I get sick, but not a cold. Fever, pain from my jaw to my knees, Nausea, etc. Why 3 days, did you ask yourself, and does it happen every time you fly.....did it just start recently when you have been flying for many years.....
Just a note: you suggest not using an airplane bathroom, but also suggest drinking plenty of water...I don't know about you, but I certainly can't do both!
I saw a MYTHBUSTERS show once and it showed that fecal master is found EVERYWHERE. They put a toothbrush in different parts of the household, one under a cup, one in the bathroom, one near the sink, etc. EVERY toothbrush, including the one the was protected under the cup had the bacteria on it. The also had a scientist explaining that it is virtually impossible to get away from AND it is such low doses it will not harm you.
Take some AIRBORNE before you travel or Emergency C or build up your immune system with over the counter Vit. C and multi vitamins before you go on a trip.
I have flown many times, and NEVER got sick, but since we are flying to Europe this Sept. I will take some "Airborne" before boarding my flight, just in case :-)
I have been taking vitamins for over 30 yrs. and I think that helps a lot from not getting sick.
I also think it has to do with each persons own ammune system.
We are flying "LUFTHANSA" German's are known for being clean :-)
For what it's worth-I've flown all over the world, literally hundreds of times, and, sadly, often contracted some of the nastiest colds/flus,etc imaginable. However...the latest data seem to suggest that more exposure to bacteria and viruses make us HEALTHIER (what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?), and vice versa. So, next time I see a mom letting her child play onthe floor of the waiting room in a Beijing hospital, I suppose I should smile and realize what a favor she is doing for him!
Yes, what about the greater the exposure, the stronger we get?
Are we now getting sicker because we are living to clean? Are we not creating our own nightmare of super germs? Where are we suppose to draw the line between cleanliness and living with the germs around us?
I also seem to get sick every time I fly. What is especially irritating are all of the many rude people who travel when they are sick and feel free to sneeze and cough all over everyone without covering up with a tissue, a handkerchief or both of their hands
It mays be unavoidable to travel, but at least have some decency and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough . It would help to cut back on all of the germs flying around. And wash hands. In the meantime, I take Airborne, echinacea, drink fluids and hope for the best.
If you REALLY want to fly the cleanest airlines, try any of the Japanese airlines, or SIngapore airlines. The are terrific.
To the issue of courtesy, in Tokyo, one sees many people in winter wearing surgical masks in public; not to protect themselves, but as a courtest to protect OTHERS under involuntarily close conditions.
WE will never eradicate germs, nor will we ever eradicate rude, thoughtless people, who raise their progeny in the same fashion. Gotta take the world as it is, not as we wish it were, and figure out what to do.
I will say this: after 7 years living in Beijing, I noticed many of those in their 40's, having survived gthe privation and hardships of the cultural revolution, were indeed far more hardy and disease resistant than your average bear.
Darwinism in action !
OK- so there are germs. I've flown for years and never become sick as a result of it. Now, we're being scared to fly based on an "a friend told me" story by a
Phd. Sounds more like a Lysol inspired story to me.
I'm not saying that planes aren't a "germy" place, but I'd like to save my fear of flying for takeoffs and landings. The story seems a tad cruel to advocate drinking lots of water but avoiding the restroom- geez!
When you figure all of your potential exposure when flying or even going where there are alot of people, your best bet is good hygiene. When I fly or am in large groups of people, I wear an "Air Buddy". It ionizes the breathing zone. I have not been ill post flight for years now. My husband has even bought one--he used to pooh, pooh it. Hand sanitizer and my Air Buddy makes travel much healthier!
Definitely drink water on long haul flights (small sips just to keep from getting dry). The first time I flew to India, my throat got so dry, I got a bad throat infection. It gave me the worst headache of my life. I've been back twice since then and along with my water, have not had any trouble.
I think that modern society is becoming too focused on finding germs everywhere. Recent studies have shown that exposure to germs as a child properly calibrates the immune system and that avoiding that may be the reason we are experiencing such high rates of allergies compared to the past. I've even heard (sorry no source to quote here) that society is experiencing an upswing in major auto-immune diseases because of our pursuit of near-sterile environments for our children. Obviously I'm not advocating taking precautions for the real nasties like HIV, Hepatitus, etc, but perhaps we just have to learn to live in our world and accept that exposure to germs is part of life.
Sorry, my previous post meant to say...
"Obviously I'm not advocating NOT taking precautions for the real nasties like HIV, Hepatitus, etc, but perhaps we just have to learn to live in our world and accept that exposure to germs is part of life."
As a liver transplant patient the doctors have drilled it into my head to wash my hands often. I don't use the anti-bacterial stuff, just plain old soap. I've always felt any bathroom other than my own was full of germs and I avoid public restrooms. People don't care if they make a mess in a public restroom. They think it's not their restroom and someone else will have to clean it up. So they pee on the floor and the toilet seats and don't care. I think that's sad. My mother didn't raise me that way. Too bad we can't see the germs around us...I think we'd all be a bit more careful.
In response to Anonymous 8:42 AM, who wrote "I've been told not to wash my hands in the bathroom but to use hand sanitizer"
This is a terrible idea. Hand sinitizers kill only bacteria, but not viruses, which is what's giving people colds and flus. Not washing your hands not only spreads these viruses to others, it opens your body up to those infections. Washing your hands removes both bacteria and viruses, which are the main "germs" people talk about.
I flew from Columbus Ohio to Fort Myers Florida on one of those small Delta Chataqua planes, the ones with only one seat on one side of the aisle and two seats on the other. After drinking some bottled water, I had to use the bathroom. After using the facility, I discovered, to my horror, that there was no water to be had from the sink. No soap, either. I went to the only stewardess on the plane and asked her what to do. She handed me a stack of handi-wipes, like you get at KFC and told me to use one and put the rest in the bathroom. I probably used five of them out of paranoia and put the remaining three in the bathroom. I guess with Delta facing bankruptcy, water and soap are now considered unnecessary luxuries on their smaller flights??!! I wished I had never taken any pretzels/peanuts/bottled water from the hands of that stewardess, as she had used the bathroom shortly after the flight commenced!
I always dread flying, I get sick every time. We are flying tomorrow, and after reading this, I think I will take wipes and hand sanitizer and see if that makes a difference!
For the 3:31pm comment.
How do you know that she didn't use one of those wipes herself after using the bathroom?
Flight Attendants, as they are called in the past few years, have to take extra precautions with all the germs on planes, which are brought in by thousands of passengers every day. We get sick only once in awhile from flying. What about those poor Flight Attendants who get sick all the time from sick passengers, time change, stress and very low pay.
So, give a F.A. a break.
OOPS, comment was for 5:19pm not 3:31pm.
Sorry!
I was glad to read other people's comments and realize that I am not the only one who gets sick after travelling! I have travelled internationally twice and both times returned home extremely ill. Not only fevers of 104, 105, but diarrhea for 12 days or more! My digestive system has not been the same since. Thanks to the tips listed above, I feel better prepared to try another trip this summer.
In addition to the wipes i also suggest holdinf a wipe over the air floe nozzle and cleansing it before turning the nozzle open.
Air in the cockpit is fresh, ie: piped in for the crew. Air in passenger section is RECYCLED for the entire flight, so, you are breathing everyone else's airborne germs! Another thing, always shut the lid before flushing to help eliminate the aerosolized toilet gunk that flies with each flush.
Just curious, what can you suggest as ways to disinfect hands and surfaces and keep flights sickness-free since airports have now banned hand sanitizer and other liquids as carry-ons? Any options would be appreciated.
These things are real. I have a HEALTHY system and use many antidotes but 4 out of 6 segments of flight I would get ill- For my vacation or trying to go back to work afterward. A friend who works on cruises said they are even worse. We are aquiring foreign and multiple virals/bacteria from everywhere, and aren't ready for them. I now use a disposable mask (like for painting) and don't get sick. I may look like a weirdo, but I don't care! Also helpful is turning the air blower away. Maybe it's hot but it's worth it. The natural remedy 'Airborne' is good, as another said below. I carry wipes, my own blanket and shower thoroughly afterward. Happy travel!
2 weeks ago i traveled with my family to florida my 2 girls were sitting together as one felt sick she opened the vomit bag in front of her and all vomit from another passanger fell on her and her sister they were so embarrased they had vomit on their clothes and hands i was so ashamed I wanted to cry.
It is bad enough we cannot profile terrorists or those that look like potential terrorists, but we also should be able to quarantine snot-nosed disease carrying children as well. Perhaps a closed off section in the back of the plane with a separate hvac system would help keep us more sanitary and healthy. Shame on inconsiderate parents that travel with sick children!
You're not allowed to take with you on the plane all kinds of stuff, I read that on flights to Europe you can't even take a bottle of water. I'm sure you shouldn't take any sprays.
I have several autoimmune diseases plus asthma - On the last 2 flights that I took from FL to Del. and NY I contracted pneumonia and a vicious viral/baterial infection which took me a long time to get over - my family doctor told me that "planes are filthy" so I guess I will be driving from now on.
As a flight attendant on a major carrier (this is my 5th airline) I can tell you that airplanes are filthy, dirty flying incubator tubes for all kinds of nasty bugs in addition to all the illnesses that passengers bring on. We as working people on these flights get sick ALL the time. We wash and wash and wash our hands and try not to touch our noses, mouth and eyes but we STILL get really sick and many of us get in trouble for being sick and having to call in. I'd hate to tell you but men are the worst culprits in not washing their hands. How can I tell? Well, when I walk into the lav right after one of them, the sink is dry. But, mothers are great culprits for letting their toddlers run around the airplane as well as in the lavs without shoes or socks. We try to tell them but they DON'T LISTEN. This is across all economic levels as well as any class of service (First Class, Business, or Coach.) So, please, if you're sick - stay home. Wash your hands or bring sani-wipes. Those seats are filthy as are the blankets and pillows. That will never change. I'm sorry to say in summary that flying in a "dirty" business and will never change
I wish I'd read all this before I traveled to Dom Rep. I've been back 3 days and from the moment I got off the plane at Gatwick my legs started to wobble and my head felt light as if it was separate from my body. I haven't been to bed now for 3 nights and the pain in my tummy is like nothing else and I'm spending most of my time in the lavatory. I don't like to visit the Doctor unecessarily but after reading these comments I wondering what on earth I have picked up.
We fly long-haul flights with our 3 kids every year. We live in Taiwan, and sometimes fly to the USA (where our kids were born, and where we lived for many years), and sometimes fly to the UK where my family live. Drinking lots of water to stay hydrated means lots of trips to the toilets, and I am always surprised that they stay relatively clean looking and tidy (good thing we can't see bacteria and viruses.) I wash my hands every time I visit, and so do our kids, and I wipe all of our tray tables with a good qualiy wipe. We take our own books, comics, and magazines, and we don't put them in the pouch but under the seats in paper bags. Even in summer, we all carry our coats on board, and use them as blankets when we take a nap, so we NEVER use the airplane blankets, which I am sure are never washed. We have never gotton sick from these long haul 12 to 15 hour flights, and I wonder if that is because we always take flights that leave in the evening. Our kids, and most of the passengers too, sleep for quite a long time during the night hours, and that keeps the plane toilets cleaner, I think. One of our kids used to get nose bleeds on the long flights, but that stopped when we started carrying a saline nasal spray.
I travel by air, on average, once every two months. I also work in Public Health. Ironically it was just three days ago I was on a flight home, noticing how filthy the window, walls, my seat and seatbelt, tray table, and seat back pocket were, only to sit here reading this article! Professionally, I provide education on influenza and the looming, yet inevitable, threat of pandemic influenza. Those who dismiss the precautionary measures and advice of medical/health professionals are only harming the rest of the population. History tell us we will face another influenza pandemic. The severity of it and the exact date it will emerge is unknown. What IS known is that we are more educated now and have all the warnings from the past. We must prepare for the inevitable (Hurricane Katrina ring any bells?) and take necessary precautions now; the simplest being cover your cough, keep your hands clean, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and stay home when you're sick. According to the majority of the comments posted here, most of the population remembers these basic hygeine principals. Putting our knowledge into practice is another issue. Changing human behavior, routine, and habit is yet another. Lessons learned from the past are very valuable tools for our future! If interested, search "The Spanish flu of 1918" and read how that illness affected every facet of daily life, not only in other countries, but right here in the United States.
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