These are the dirtiest places on a plane and here’s how you can avoid getting sick

Studies have shown that more than one in five people who travel on planes suffer from a cold or the flu after the flight.

So what’s the cause of this post-flight sickness and how can we avoid getting sick when we fly?

Microbiologists have tested planes and found that germs are commonplace, and can survive for hours or days after the passenger who brought them on board has departed, with viruses like MRSA and E. coli living on the plane for over a week.

As well as causing the common cold and influenza, these bugs and viruses can cause everything from skin diseases and upset stomachs.

So where are the dirtiest places on the plane, where these germs are likely to be hiding?

According to research by , the tray table is the dirtiest place on a plane, followed by the overhead air vent, the toilet flush button and the seatbelt buckle.