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Why we get sick when we travel – and how to prevent it from happening

Feel like you can't avoid illness when travelling? You're not alone.
Feel like you can’t avoid illness when travelling? You’re not alone.

It’s that time of year where we’re all scrambling to get ready for the holidays – and for many of us, that means packing our bags and flying off to see our loved ones.

But for many, travellers often find themselves with a sore throat or runny nose when they’ve arrived at their destination. In fact, since it’s become such a common occurrence, the phenomenon was dubbed “leisure sickness” by Professor Ad Vingerhoets from Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

So why does it seem like it’s impossible to travel without catching a cold or flu?

The first place we run into trouble is the airport. Since we’re used to the people and places we interact with in our daily routine, our body knows how to fight the common viruses and germs we encounter. In an airport, with people literally arriving and departing from all over the world, you may be exposed to viruses you’ve never encountered before that your immune system doesn’t know how to handle or defend against. Gross.

Even worse, you’re likely in close quarters with all of these people in lineups, security and on the plane itself. Being in a small area with so many people is a hazard in itself. Given that the cold weather brings with it an increase in sickness, the likeliness of someone coughing or sneezing is high, meaning those germs can potentially reach you.

The next culprit is all of the things that we touch on board that everyone else is touching: the overhead bins, the seat tray, the seat belt and the bathroom. A plane can make multiple flights in a day, and it’s unlikely that everything gets sanitized after each trip — meaning if the person sitting in the seat before you didn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom, you’re likely touching the same things they touched.

If you’re someone that is particularly susceptible to falling ill, you might want to carry disinfecting wipes with you to clean your seat tray and other surfaces around you. Always make sure to sanitize your hands after using the bathroom or before you eat. Try to avoid touching your face and mouth as much as possible while onboard to minimize the chances of whatever germs you picked up from entering your body.

And remember, if you personally have some kind of cold or illness, consider postponing your trip if possible as a courtesy to other passengers.

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