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By Diane Griffith, Staff Writer, myOptumHealth

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You're in an airplane or train. You reach into the seat-back pocket and pull out a magazine. Then you pull down the tray in front of you to place it on.

Whether you're flying, riding in a bus or traveling by rail, seat backs, seat pockets and lavatories can be germ-ridden. And if a sick passenger a few rows ahead of you sneezes, you may be too close for comfort.

Germs in transit
Do you know who touched that seat-back tray on the train before you - or what may have rested on it? And what about that pocket that held magazines? Because other passengers may leave behind a dirty tissue or store a dirty diaper in a seat-back pocket, it's not unusual for germs to breed there.

You may have washed your hands after visiting the restroom, but then you grabbed the doorknob to open the door before heading back to your seat. Bathrooms in trains, buses and planes - just like any other public restroom - can contain germs on the door handle, toilet seat, sink and faucet.

And what happens when a sick passenger sneezes? Anyone seated several rows in front of or behind that person can be infected.

Battling the bacteria
So how can you stay healthy if you have to travel? The following tips can help:

• Wipe down armrests, trays and seat pockets with antibacterial wipes. Cold viruses and flu germs can live up to eight hours on such surfaces.
• If you will be sleeping onboard a train, plane or bus, bring your own pillow and blanket.
• Drink plenty of water. Dry, recirculated air can affect the mucous membranes in your nose and throat, making it easier for germs to enter.
• Open the air vents above your seat to help blow any airborne germs away.
• When using a restroom onboard, use a paper towel to flush the toilet, turn on the faucet and open the door. Then follow up with an antibacterial gel.
• Close the lid to the toilet before flushing. Flushing can release microorganisms into the air. With bathrooms on buses, trains and planes being so small, you may be exposed to splashing fecal matter when the seat is up.
• Use hand sanitizer frequently and keep your hands away from your face.

If you're feeling well when you leave home, there's no reason you can't feel just as well on arrival. By taking some extra precautions, you can arrive at your destination healthy.

SOURCES:

• Ozonoff D, Pepper L. Ticket to ride: spreading germs a mile high. The Lancet. 2005;365(12):917-918.
• Perz JE, Craig AS, Schaffner W. Mixed outbreak of parainfluenza type 1 and influenza B associated with tourism and air travel. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2001:;5(4):189-191.
• Oregon Public Health. Travel and H1N1. Accessed: 12/18/2009
• Hocking MB, Foster HD. Common cold transmission in commercial aircraft: Industry and passenger implications. Journal of Environmental Health Research. 2004;3(1):7-12.

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