"Fight The Flu Travel Tips" - Vanessa Murdock

Do you have plans to travel during the height of flu season? As mid-winter recess hits, many will be flying, but it is also peak flu season. Peter Shearer, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and medical director of the emergency department at The Mount Sinai Hospital said, "Although they do a good job of cleaning the cabin between flights, they don't necessarily go around and sanitize everything." He added that you should absolutely bring your own sanitizing wipes and use them. According to a 2015 study by Travel Math, the seat-back tray table is the dirtiest place on the plane, carrying more germs than the toilet handle, seatbelt buckle, and overhead bin compartment combined. "If you end up on a plane and it's packed and there's someone next to you that's coughing constantly, bringing your own face mask would not be a bad idea," added Dr. Shearer. The recycled dry air makes it easier for flu and other respiratory illnesses to get passed around, said Dr. Shearer.

• Peter Shearer, MD, Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Medical Director, Emergency Department, The Mount Sinai Hospital

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