Airline Air and Germs

In March 2003, when one passenger with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infected 22 fellow passengers on a 3-hour flight from Hong Kong to Beijing. Some infected passengers were seated seven rows away. But, researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston say not to worry. They conclude that on-board ventilation systems generally do a good job protecting airline passengers against infection. These ventilation systems completely replace cabin air about every three minutes. When working right, these systems clear 63% of airborne germs with each cycle. The ventilation systems in the airport terminals aren't as good as the ones on the planes, so in reality, your more likely to catch something while you're still on the ground. To reduce the risk of catching an infection on an airplane, health officials advise that you wash your hands frequently, and turn on the blowers above your seat. Link.