WARNING!
This is an older article that may not reflect Dr. Mercola’s current view on this topic. Use our search engine to find Dr. Mercola’s latest position on any health topic.
A researcher who took swabs of various surfaces on planes in 2007 found the surfaces contaminated with the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), norovirus, and E. coli. Norovirus and E. coli can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms and illness, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
While no data exists suggesting that people are more likely to get sick on a plane than elsewhere, it still is a confined space that can facilitate transfer of germs like this, as well as diseases such as influenza. So what can you do to protect yourself while you fly?