Air Quality on Board
The close interaction with a large number of other passengers in the confines of an aircraft cabin naturally multiplies the chance of infection for the frequent traveler. One is justifiably worried that the circulation of recycled air is an incubator for disease.
But with modern technology at work, the situation is not as bad as one might imagine. According to a spokesperson for the Euro plane manufacturer Airbus, the bulk of the cabin air comprises fresh air sourced from outside, and only a portion of the air inside a plane is recirculated, having passed through High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which remove bacteria, viruses and dust particles.
As cabin air is circulated vertically around each row of seats, and then extracted through under-seat floor vents, it cannot move backward or forward at will. Therefore, the probability of virus transfer beyond a seat row is almost zero.
Aviation experts emphasize that in the wake of the SARS epidemic in 2003, the new generation of aircrafts has devoted extra attention to air purification. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for example, has the best-filtered air in the aviation industry.
Anyhow, it is recommended that a bit of homework on the destinations for travelers prior to the journey is mandatory. They should also be alert to public health messages through the mass media and government websites.
However, many minor ailments are self-treatable, the travelers should consult their family doctor for a list of recommended vaccines and medications before commencing their trips, especially if they are likely to be extended ones. A trip to the local pharmacy to make up a travel medical kit would also be most useful.
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