Effects
Airplanes are enclosed spaces that are ripe for transmitting infectious diseases. Infections spread depending on the type of disease, proximity to the person with the illness and the amount of time spent on an airplane with an infected person.
Types
Influenza, tuberculosis, SARS and measles can be spread during air travel. On flights that travel within the U.S., various strains of influenza are the most commonly spread illnesses.
Considerations
Passengers seated within two rows of an infected person have a greater risk of acquiring an infectious disease.
Prevention
Frequently wash your hands to reduce the risk of acquiring an illness. Consult your doctor before flying abroad to ensure that you are up to date on all vaccinations.
Warning
Acutely ill people and those suffering from infectious diseases should not travel. When a person with a communicable disease is known to have recently flown, passengers on that flight will be contacted and screened by public health officials.
Article Written By Baldwin Ellis
Based in Atlanta, Baldwin Ellis has been a writer since 2007. He covers fitness, mental health and travel, with work appearing in print and online publications such as Scazu Fitness and USA Today Travel Tips. Ellis holds a Master of Arts in community psychology.
