Airports on both sides of the US suffered measles scares this month after infected travelers entered the US and potentially spread the disease.
On March 3 health officials warned about a potential measles outbreak at New York’s JFK International Airport after a child who entered the country on a China Airlines flight had tested positive for the highly contagious disease.
The news came after a passenger arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on a Korean Air flight from Seoul and also tested positive for measles on February 19.
Dr Darin Detwiler, who previously served as a public health expert for the FDA, told DailyMail.com that with the ‘recent resurgence of measles – a disease so contagious that 90 percent of unvaccinated individuals exposed will contract it – air travel has become an increasingly risky endeavor’.
Dr Detwiler said along with measles, influenza, norovirus (the stomach flu), COVID-19 and the cold virus RSV are other ‘infectious threats lurking in crowded terminals and cramped cabins’.
While he says there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of exposure while traveling, some smart habits can drastically reduce it.
Here he reveals his top tips to reducing the risk of infection from from the start to the finish of your journey:
Airports on both sides of the US have signaled red alerts over possible measles outbreaks as the deadly virus takes hold across the country
Before you arrive at the airport
Your exposure to germs begins long before you step into the terminal, Dr Detwiler says.
He explains: ‘Rideshares, taxis, and airport shuttles can be incubators for illness, often lacking proper sanitation and ventilation between passengers.’
In a bid to maximize your safety, he recommends disinfecting surfaces that get touched a lot – such as seatbelt buckles, door handles and touchscreen TVs – with a hand sanitizer gel or wipes.
Cracking the window open in vehicles can also help to ‘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.
Moving through TSA security
The TSA security checkpoints are one of the dirtiest areas in an airport, Dr Detwiler warns.
He says: ‘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.’
To prevent the spread of germs, he recommends using hand sanitizer immediately after touching the security bins, conveyor belts, or fingerprint scanners.
He also advises carrying a paper boarding pass or use mobile check-in to avoid using touch screen monitors, which harbor germs.
And if you want to take your safety protocols up a notch, Dr Detwiler adds: ‘You could consider wearing disposable gloves, but remember to remove them safely and sanitize afterward.’
Dr Darin Detwiler previously served as a public health expert for the FDA specializing in foodborne illnesses
Navigating the terminal
With thousands of travelers from all over the world passing through each day, Dr Detwiler says terminals are high-risk areas for airborne illnesses like measles, flu, and RSV.
For this reason, the health expert says wearing a facemask is a good idea, despite being out of the Covid pandemic era.
He recommends KN95 and N95 masks, as both are rated to filter out at least 95 percent of particles.
And if you don’t feel comfortable wearing it all the time, Dr Detwiler says it is essential to where masks in crowded areas if you want to maximize your safety, ‘particularly at security, near gate seating, and in restrooms’.
Other tips he offers to avoid germs is to maintain distance from anyone visibly ill (especially in boarding lines), to use your phone instead of self-check-in kiosks and shared touchscreens and to stay hydrated.
Elaborating on his last tip, he explains: ‘Dry air suppresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection, so it’s best to keep a drink with you at all times.’
Safely enjoying airport lounges
Dr Detwiler says premium airport lounges may offer a quieter atmosphere, but they’re not immune to contamination, ‘especially when it comes to shared food stations and high-touch surfaces’.
For this reason, 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.
Another area of airport lounges he says is riddled with germs is the washroom and shower facilities, so he always uses a napkin or paper towel to open bathroom doors and touch faucets.
Boarding the flight and being on the plane
Once you step onto a plane, you’re in close quarters with hundreds of people for hours.
While Dr Detwiler says High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters used on planes remove 99.9 percent of airborne particles such as dust, bacteria, and viruses, the biggest risk is proximity to other passengers – especially if you’re sitting close to someone coughing or sneezing.
The former FDA employee who is also an ardent traveler, says when he flies he always picks a window seat as you’ll have fewer encounters with passing passengers.
He then always keeps his air vent open and directed slightly downward to ‘create an airflow barrier’.
And before taking his seat, he uses sanitizing wipes to clean high touch areas, including the tray table, armrests, seatbelt buckle, and touchscreen.
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, says Dr Detwiler.
He reveals that the baggage claim area, customs, and ground transportation all present new risks.
Plus, he highlights that ‘exhaustion can make you more vulnerable as you are less alert and it is easy to let your guard down’.
To keep your health in check, he says the first step is sanitizing your hands after collecting your luggage, as your ‘bag has been tossed around and handled by multiple people, moving along on conveyor belts, trolleys, and cargo holds’.
He then says it is best to keep your mask on in customs and baggage claim as these areas are still crowded with travelers from all over the world.
On returning home or arriving at a hotel, the final step is to shower and change into clean clothes as soon as possible – especially after long-haul flights.
