Germs on a Plane: Aircraft, International Travel, and the Global Spread of Disease

Abstract

The impact of air travel on the spread of infectious diseases has led to considerable concern but limited study [ 1, 2]. More than 1 billion people travel by air each year. In a recent fanciful adventure film, Snakes on a Plane, passengers are terrorized by venomous snakes. In reality, more travelers are likely to be afraid of virulent infectious organisms on their flight.