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Tip: Avoiding Bugs When Flying

106411171

Great view but be sure to wipe it before leaning your head against it!

It may come as a surprise that recent studies have shown that the air that circulates in airplanes is not as germ-ridden as you may think. In fact the air in an airplane's cabin at 35,000 feet is cleaner than the equivalent enclosed spaces like movie theaters or subway cars.

According to Dr. Mark Gendreau quoted in the New York Times recently, an emergency and aviation medicine expert at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass, "Cabin air is refreshed about 15 times an hour, compared with less than 12 an hour in an office building. On most full-size jets, the air is also circulated through hospital-grade HEPA filters, which are supposed to remove 99.97 percent of bacteria and the minuscule particles that carry viruses."

Turns out it's the surfaces that you may come in contact with on a plane that are the real culprit of many illnesses that are passed around during travel. Viruses can stick around for hours and all surfaces aren't necessarily sterilized between flights. That's why it's recommendable to carry alcohol-based disinfectant wipes to clean off all surfaces (are rests, tray, entertainment control area) you may come in contact with during a flight.

For more information, see a recent New York Times piece on this subject.

106411171

Great view but be sure to wipe it before leaning your head against it!

It may come as a surprise that recent studies have shown that the air that circulates in airplanes is not as germ-ridden as you may think. In fact the air in an airplane's cabin at 35,000 feet is cleaner than the equivalent enclosed spaces like movie theaters or subway cars.

According to Dr. Mark Gendreau quoted in the New York Times recently, an emergency and aviation medicine expert at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass, "Cabin air is refreshed about 15 times an hour, compared with less than 12 an hour in an office building. On most full-size jets, the air is also circulated through hospital-grade HEPA filters, which are supposed to remove 99.97 percent of bacteria and the minuscule particles that carry viruses."

Turns out it's the surfaces that you may come in contact with on a plane that are the real culprit of many illnesses that are passed around during travel. Viruses can stick around for hours and all surfaces aren't necessarily sterilized between flights. That's why it's recommendable to carry alcohol-based disinfectant wipes to clean off all surfaces (are rests, tray, entertainment control area) you may come in contact with during a flight.

For more information, see a recent New York Times piece on this subject.

Great view but be sure to wipe it before leaning your head against it!

It may come as a surprise that recent studies have shown that the air that circulates in airplanes is not as germ-ridden as you may think. In fact the air in an airplane's cabin at 35,000 feet is cleaner than the equivalent enclosed spaces like movie theaters or subway cars.

According to Dr. Mark Gendreau quoted in the New York Times recently, an emergency and aviation medicine expert at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Mass, "Cabin air is refreshed about 15 times an hour, compared with less than 12 an hour in an office building. On most full-size jets, the air is also circulated through hospital-grade HEPA filters, which are supposed to remove 99.97 percent of bacteria and the minuscule particles that carry viruses."

Turns out it's the surfaces that you may come in contact with on a plane that are the real culprit of many illnesses that are passed around during travel. Viruses can stick around for hours and all surfaces aren't necessarily sterilized between flights. That's why it's recommendable to carry alcohol-based disinfectant wipes to clean off all surfaces (are rests, tray, entertainment control area) you may come in contact with during a flight.

For more information, see a recent New York Times piece on this subject.

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