Beware of Germs on a Plane: What to look out for

Germs on a plane

You might think there's nothing worse than being crammed into a tiny seat on an airplane next to a passenger who smells like he hasn't bathed in days. But even if you have the row to yourself, there are other passengers on the plane you can't see or smell.

And they could make you sick.

New research confirms that bacteria just love common airplane surfaces -- including just about everything on the aircraft that you're likely to touch.

When you return your tray table to its upright position, for example, you could come into contact with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or the nasty fecal germ E. coli O157.

MRSA can live on that plastic tray for up to five days, while E. coli could live there for three days, according to experiments.

Don't even think about reaching for the magazine in the seatback pocket -- and whatever you do, don't store anything of your own in there (especially not your water bottle or midflight snack).

The same tests find that MRSA can live in the cloth of that pocket for up to a week.

MRSA can live on the rubber part of the armrest for six days, while E. coli can linger there for four days.

The bugs can also survive on the window shade, metal surfaces and of course the toilet handles for days at a time, according to the experiments.

These are germs that could leave you sick for days -- and in some cases, they can be superbugs that are untreatable with common antibiotics, which is why it's essential to limit your contact with them.

Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't fly. It just means you need to be smart about it.

First, consider that cloth pocket off limits. Don't touch the magazine in there, and don't store anything of yours inside it.

Bring some alcohol-based wipes and clean the armrests and your tray table, including the sides and underside since those are the parts you'll touch when you push it back up.

Wash your hands regularly, and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating.

And before you travel, be sure to boost your immune system with healthy vitamins and probiotics, especially if you're heading off to another country where you'll come into contact with bugs that your body isn't familiar with. 
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God bless,

Dr. Mark Stengler