Airport check-in machines are so dirty that they contain 1,000 times more germs than TOILETS
A study has looked at the number of bacteria that cover areas in the airport and on planes
WHERE do you think you’re most likely to pick up germs when you’re at the airport?
If you thought it was from a toilet seat then you’re wrong - it’s actually from the self-service machines that you use when you go to check in.
In fact, self-service machines have 1,000 times more bacteria on than your typical loo seat.
In a new study commissioned by , swab tests that measure the amount of colony-forming units (CFU) or bacteria per square inch were performed in several well-used areas.
The average self check-in screen was found to have 253,857 CFU, and one particularly dirty check-in screen had a count of one million CFU per square inch.
So it might be a good idea to pack an extra tube of hand sanitizer next time you head to the airport.
The report also found that the arm rests on airport chairs are also particularly grubby, with the average having 21,630 CFU.
Meanwhile, water fountain buttons harboured an average of 19,181 CFU.
In comparison, a toilet set has just 172 CFU per square inch - not bad at all.
It's the flush button on plane loos – which we all touch when we go to flush a toilet – that is the germiest part of a toilet, with on average 95,145 CFU.
The tray tales on planes are pretty filthy, too – measuring at 11,595 CFUs.
With studies showing that more than one in five people who travel on planes suffer from a cold or the flu after the flight, 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.
As well as the germs you come into contact with through touch, another culprit is the low humidity of cabin air.
Some research suggests that low humidity interrupts the Mucociliary Clearance System.
This system consists of a thin layer of mucus and tiny hairs in the nose that usually traps viruses and bacteria and moves them from the nose to the throat - where they are swallowed and destroyed by acid in the stomach.
Because this system no longer works properly, bacteria and viruses get easier access to your lungs.
On top of this, planes are often filled with people from many different countries carrying strains of virus that your body hasn’t come into contact with before.
So how do you stay healthy on a flight?
The number one rule is to not touch your eyes, mouth or the inside of your nose, although that can be very hard to do.
A more realistic option is to make sure your hands are clean if you do touch your eyes, mouth or nose, by washing them well with soap and water, and frequently applying a hand sanitiser gel containing at least 60 per cent alcohol.
Remember to do this before a meal and as soon as you can after your flight.
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It’s a good idea to wipe down as many surfaces as you can with the gel or antibacterial wipes too, such as the remote control, tray table, video monitor screen and other surfaces known to have high levels of bacteria.
Similarly, try not to touch places that are accessible to a lot of people, like the top edges of aisle seats, door handles, or bathroom mechanisms.
A moisturising nasal spray will also help combat that low humidity by helping the Mucociliary Clearance System do its work.