Airline Travel and Infection

Our fascination with the misadventures of travel dates back to the dawn of recorded history. Homer's epic tale of the 10-year wanderings of Odysseus returning home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy remains the classic account of journey-related hazards. Real-life challenges increased as civilization grew, and life imitated art as medieval pilgrims and later seafaring travelers fell victim to cholera, smallpox, typhus, and other deadly infections while en route. By contrast, modern travel is remarkably safe. Even in close quarters, hygiene, sanitation, the quality of food and water, and general comfort are reasonably good.Now that space-age technology has . . .