Summer travel is in full swing, and airports across America are busier than ever with nearly 3 million passengers flying every day.

Travel, especially in crowded environments like airports and airplanes, increases the potential for exposure to viruses, particularly those that spread through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces.

Common viruses people are most at risk of encountering during air travel include respiratory viruses (influenza, Covid-19 and rhinoviruses, which cause the common cold) and norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

However, more serious illnesses, including measles, are increasingly becoming a threat as international travelers and unvaccinated Americans move through airports. 

In a bid to keep travelers as healthy as possible, one expert is warning of the spots in the airport and on the airplane that should be approached with care. 

Dr Darin Detwiler, who previously served as a public health expert for the FDA, told the Daily Mail that air travel is a risky endeavor with ‘people unknowingly entering an invisible battlefield of infectious threats’.

However, Dr Detwiler said ‘there is some good news,’ adding certain habits can protect against getting sick and ruining a vacation. 

‘By taking strategic precautions at every stage of your journey – from your ride to the airport to the moment you retrieve your luggage – you can dramatically reduce your risk of infection.’

With summer travel in full swing, airports across the US are busier than ever. An average of 2.9 million passengers fly in and out of US airports each day (stock image)

Be Uber alert  

Your exposure to germs begins before you step into the terminal, Dr Detwiler said. 

‘Rideshares, taxis and airport shuttles can be incubators for illness, often lacking proper sanitation and ventilation between passengers,’ he explained.

Dr Darin Detwiler (pictured) previously served as a public health expert for the FDA specializing in foodborne illnesses

To maximize safety, he recommends disinfecting high touch surfaces, such as seatbelt buckles, door handles and touchscreen TVs, with hand sanitizer or cleansing wipes. 

Opening the window can also ‘improve airflow and reduce airborne virus concentration.’

Meanwhile, Dr Detwiler recommends keeping your hands away from your face as your eyes, nose and mouth are direct entry points for pathogens.

Security bins are dirtier than toilets 

Security checkpoints are some of the dirtiest areas in an airport, Dr Detwiler warns. 

A 2018 study found that the plastic trays used at airport security checkpoints harbored more germs than the airport toilets. 

Researchers took eight samples from the trays used at the Helsinki airport over the course of three weeks. 

A 2018 study found that the plastic trays used in TSA checks harbored more germs than the airport toilets

When the results came back, they found that half of the samples carried some kind of respiratory disease, including influenza A, rhinovirus, adenovirus and coronavirus.

In comparison, viruses were not detected in most of the samples collected from toilets. 

The scientists said this may be due to people paying particular attention to hand hygiene when in the bathroom.

‘Much like old days when public pay phones were the most handled (and contaminated) surfaces, today those plastic security bins harbor more respiratory viruses than public toilets,’ Dr Detwiler told the Daily Mail in response to the findings.

To prevent the spread of germs in the security area, he recommends using hand sanitizer immediately after touching security bins, conveyor belts or fingerprint scanners.

Common viruses people are most at risk of encountering during air travel include respiratory viruses and norovirus (stock image)

Terminal air is teeming with airborne pathogens

With millions of travelers from all over the world passing through airports each day, Dr Detwiler said terminals are high-risk areas for airborne illnesses like measles, flu and RSV.

Airport terminals, as large, enclosed spaces with high traffic, can experience poor air quality due to various factors like emissions from vehicles and aircraft. And with millions of people breathing out potentially infectious droplets, there is a high chance of pathogens spreading. 

For this reason, the health expert said wearing a face mask is a good way to protect yourself.

He recommends KN95 and N95 masks, as both are designed to filter out at least 95 percent of particles.

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing a mask all the time, focus on wearing one in crowded areas to maximize safety, ‘particularly at security, near gate seating and in restrooms,’ Dr Detwiler said.

Other tips include maintaining your distance from anyone visibly ill (especially in boarding lines), using your phone instead of self-check-in kiosks and shared touch-screens, and staying hydrated. 

‘Dry air suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection,’ he explains. ‘So it’s best to keep a drink with you at all times.’

However, be wary of public drinking fountains as the dispenser buttons were one of the dirtiest surfaces in airport terminals, with 1,240 colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria.

Bathroom stall locks, in comparison, had 70 CFU.

If you want to your take safety protocols up a notch, Dr Detwiler adds, ‘you could consider wearing disposable gloves around the terminal, but remember to remove them safely and sanitize afterward.’

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing as mask all the time, focus on wearing one in crowded areas to maximize safety, ‘particularly at security, near gate seating, and in restrooms,’ Dr Detwiler said 

Beware of the buffets in airport lounges 

The expert said premium airport lounges may offer a quieter atmosphere, but they’re not immune from contamination, ‘especially when it comes to shared food stations and high-touch surfaces.’

He advises avoiding self-serve buffets and opting for packaged or made-to-order meals instead.

He also recommends disinfecting tables and seating areas before eating.

The bathrooms and shower facilities in airport lounges are also riddled with germs, so he always uses a napkin or paper towel to open bathroom doors and touch water faucets.

Boarding the plane and flying

Once on the plane, you’re packed into a small space and exposed to an exponential amount of droplets and pathogens. 

While Dr Detwiler said an aircraft’s High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters remove 99.9 percent of airborne particles, including bacteria and viruses, the biggest risk is proximity to other passengers, especially those coughing or sneezing.

The former FDA employee, who is also an ardent traveler, said he always picks a window seat to reduce encounters with passers-by.

He also always keeps his air vent open and pointed slightly downward to ‘create an airflow barrier.’

Before taking his seat, he uses sanitizing wipes to clean high-touch areas, including the tray table, armrests, seatbelt buckle and touchscreens.

One 2015 study found that tray tables were the dirtiest spots on a plane. Results showed they had 2,155 CFU per square inch, far more than the bathroom flush button (265 CFU), overhead air vent (285 CFU) and seatbelt buckle (230 CFU).

One of Dr Detwiler’s biggest no-nos while flying is using the seatback pockets because, he says, they are rarely disinfected and may harbor bacteria.

Arrival and post-flight precautions

Think you’re safe once you’ve landed? Think again.

The doctor revealed the baggage claim area, customs and ground transportation all present new risks.

Baggage claim belts come into contact with thousands of suitcases and hands, making them potential areas for bacteria to gather. 

Studies have also shown that suitcases – particularly their wheels and bases – can carry significant amounts of bacteria, sometimes exceeding levels found on surfaces like public toilet seats. 

Plus, ‘exhaustion can make you more vulnerable as you are less alert and it is easy to let your guard down’.

To keep your guard up, he recommends sanitizing your hands after collecting luggage, as your ‘bag has been tossed around and handled by multiple people, moving along on conveyor belts, trolleys and cargo holds.’

He also suggests keeping your mask on in customs and baggage claim as these areas are still crowded with travelers.

After returning home or arriving at a hotel, shower and change into clean clothes as soon as possible, especially after long-haul flights.