Study says that Two-seat hot zone is responsible for flu spreading on planes
June 20th, 2011 - 8:35 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattDuncaster, England, June 20 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists have come up with the hot zone regarding flu infection in an airplane. In a study which was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the scientists concluded that passengers who sit within two seats away from an infected person have the highest risk of contracting the virus.
The study was conducted during the heat of the H1N1 flu pandemic that claimed some lives all over the world. The researchers studied and tracked the infection trend in passengers who made a long journey to Australia in two planes. The study was conducted in May of 2009.
The researchers found that sitting two rows from a person with flu infections increased one’s risk of contracting the virus by 3.6 percent. The risk is increased to 7.7 percent if the person sits within two seats of the infected person. The scientists explained that the two-seat hot zone refers to two seats on all sides of the sick passenger including the front and the back sides.
Subsequently the scientists warn that should anyone find that they are within the specified radius, they should do well to change the seat to be assured that they are safe. Passengers are also warned to as much as possible avoid touching things including their face when they find that a passenger in the flight is coughing and sneezing during a flight.
- Flights may be mode of spreading swine flu - Jun 04, 2010
- A sneeze can contaminate surroundings for hours - Feb 02, 2011
- Why H1N1 increased mortality in healthy kids? - Nov 07, 2011
- H1N1 virus more easily spread during plane travel - Jan 08, 2010
- 'Space mice' may pave way to help keep humans fit in space - Oct 30, 2010
- Pandemic flu virus may become resistant to Tamiflu - Mar 02, 2010
- Boys infect boys with swine flu: Study - Feb 01, 2011
- Touch elbows, don't shake hands, to avoid flu - Oct 10, 2011
- Swine flu spread much wider than suspected - Jun 09, 2011
- Sudden sleep syndrome may hit kids after swine flu jab - Apr 24, 2011
- WHO declares swine flu pandemic over - Aug 11, 2010
- Now, GM chickens that don't spread bird flu - Jan 14, 2011
- New compound destroys deadly flu virus - Sep 26, 2011
- H1N1 used new trick to cause pandemic - Aug 06, 2010
- How to protect kids this flu season - Jan 16, 2011
Tags: airplane, australia, emerging infectious diseases, england, flu, flu infections, flu pandemic, hot zone, infectious diseases, long journey, radius, risk, scientists, two planes, two rows, virus