Behaviors, movements and transmissions of droplet-meditated respiratory diseases during transcontinental airline flights.
Now that is a mouthful. An M.D. of mine gave me an article and study on infectious diseases and in-flight transmission. With over three billion airline passengers annually, the diseases are an important global health concern. We all know some of us get sick immediately after a flight. We assume it is from an infected person sneezing, coughing, talking or even breathing. It is when these droplets fall on to a susceptible traveler or are inhaled that we get sick. Sitting near, a row or two away is the highest risk factor. Then we do not know how much has to do with where we sit or the movement of passengers and flights attendants moving about the cabin. Or methods of cleaning the cabins between flights. The study does seem to suggest if you sit by a window and do not get up during the flight you are less likely to get infected.
Just think how many touch the seat backs along the aisle or the overhead bins. All I can suggest after reading this huge study is take wipes. And sit still.
On another topic.. Your ID to travel.
Check with your state and learn if your driver’s license meets federal standards for boarding a domestic plane. Massachusetts is currently changing theirs. One needs TSA ID Requirements. In particular, the requirements pertain to what information states collect before issuing identification. For a driver’s license to be REAL ID-compliant, a state must require applicants to present either a photo ID or an ID which includes a full name and birth date, proof of birth date (generally a birth certificate), proof of resident status and social security number, and proof of address. So check before you fly or renew your driver’s license.
AlwaysHarriet 