CABIN FEVER

[foxfly]

After contracting a serious flu like virus for the fith time, I now realise that this is no coincidence ! Something major has to change within the Airline industry. The Civil aviation authority and the Airlines should be made more responsible for the air quality on board their aircraft. With the most recent outbreak of eboli and it's ability to be transferred so easily from one person to another, it makes me shudder to think how this disease and other dangerous germs could be passed onto passengers through the air conditioning on board an aircraft. Both my husband and I fell ill two days after returning from our holiday. I would like to carry out a survey to find out just how many people die each year with respiratory problems etc due to germs picked up on an aircraft, I am sure there will be a small percentage. I will be writing to the Health Minister to ask if anything can be changed. It is not just the passengers health at stake here, all the crew must endure this germ ridden environment too!!

[Radgirl]

There has indeed been research into this and the conclusion was that although one would expect the recycling of air etc etc to cause problems in practice it does not

As a result the industry has not increased weight by adding further filters etc which would increase air fares

As for Ebola, unless you are wearing protective clothing you are really in trouble. Filtering the air will do nothing. Fortunately outbreaks, although horrendous to those involved, have been self limiting. The current reports are of concern, but we have had this situation before.

[TWT]

You can't contract Ebola by breathing in 'tainted' air.

Close personal contact with an infected person is required.

WHO | Ebola virus disease (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/)

[Espada III]

I read a scientific paper on aircraft cabin filters and they appear to remove particles that are smaller than viruses. The cause of colds etc after flights is the much drier air which leaves the sinuses more susceptible to bugs etc which come from those people sitting next to you and when you are waiting for your luggage.

[foxfly]

Thank you for your reply! I am astounded that the tests did not reveal anything significant. I will still be contacting Jeremy Hunt and forming a lobby group called "PURE" passengers universal regulated environment. You never know it might make a difference!

[foxfly]

Thank you for that!!

[foxfly]

Thank you for your reply. It would be very interesting though to trial out these filters , maybe with one participating airline, just to see if there is indeed a drop in disease/germ transmission and also if they promote a more favourable and healthy Cabin environment.

[PAXboy]

Providing a more humid atmosphere and different air pressure were two of the design criteria for the B787 cabin. if you read about it on Wiki, you will find a lot of information. Expect Airbus to follow suit.

[foxfly]

I will read about it ...thank you!!

[MathFox]

foxfly... Most virusses spread via direct contact or contaminated surfaces. Shaking hands is a way of exhanging pathogens or touching something that has been touched by another passenger. Touch your eyes or nose after that and there is a probability of getting an infection.
The population of bacteria in your home is remarkably stable... but you are likely to meet quite some new ones in airports and planes. Washing your hands regularly and using wet (disinfecting) wipes reduces the chance of infection.

[GrahamO]

104 flights last year and not a cold or sniffle - flying mostly Middle East airlines ....... maybe its more about the airports you're traversing ?

[TightSlot]

foxfly

If your theory about cabin air were correct, the crew that work on the aircraft semi-permanently might logically be expected to be in a continual state of sickness, as would their families and friends at home. This is not the case.

In fact, aircraft use HEPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA) filters that restrict the presence of pathogens in recirculated air.

HEPA filters won't protect you from the person sitting next to you, or, for example, those that touch the toilet door knob without washing their hands. This kind of transmission is almost certainly what has affected you in the past. I would suggest sani-wipes might be a help?

The way to combat some diseases (I can't speak for ebola) might be at airports on arrival à la SARS - temperature scanners and so forth.

[B Fraser]

If your theory about cabin air were correct, the crew that work on the aircraft semi-permanently might logically be expected to be in a continual state of sickness

Wimbledon fortnight appears to show a statistical anomaly as does Ascot week ;)

[Basil]

Wimbledon fortnight appears to show a statistical anomaly
Ha! The old ones are the best - but doesn't make them wrong :)

[TightSlot]

Us ex-charter dogs only do Wimbledon if we're wearing black pants and a bow-tie and serving champers to the BA crew :E

[Basil]

TS, wearing black pants and a bow-tie and serving champers
The last time I saw anything approaching that was outside the Roma (was it?) in Bangkok :E
The next day I said "Can't be a gay bar, I saw some girls in there."
Crew: 'Bas, FFS, you told us you were ex MN etc, etc.
Bas: Oh! :O

[Dan Winterland]

The HEPA filters are similar to the ones found in operating theatres. The difference is that the operating theatre will typically have it's air changed about every twenty minutes whereas an airliner typically replaces the volume of air in the cabin in about twelve. The air is quite clean and added to the fact that many pathogens have a problem surviving for any length of time in the dry atmosphere of the cabin, it's more likely you picked up your bug from the person next to you, or at your destination, for which you may not have strong immunity against the local pathogens.

[foxfly]

Point taken.. I never use the toilet on these flights! And I know just how important good hygiene is, as two of my family members are Doctors!! I'm still not convinced though !! I am never usually ill, I have never been in hospital...and the only time I fall ill, is one or two days after stepping of the plane! ?

[KBPsen]

A mind is a terrible thing to change.

[ExXB]

Travelling involves a lot of people to people contact that you don't normally have. Take the bus to the train to the airport, stand in queues for check in, security and in the duty free shop. Other queues to board, deboard, immigration and customs.

Only on the airplane are efficient HEPA filters used. And you blame the airlines for your sniffles?

Think again.