Airport Security Bins Carry More Viruses Than an Airport Toilet
It's no surprise that airports might not be the most hygienic places on earth. From bare feet in the security line to crowded terminal gates, there are plenty of viruses lingering around that you should be mindful of.
When it comes to the dirtiest parts of an airport, though, a new study found that the plastic bins at airport security checkpoints carry the most germs — even more than toilets.
A group of pandemic experts from the University of Nottingham and the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare swabbed a variety of the most-touched surfaces at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) in Finland during the winter of 2016 and found high concentrations of viruses. They published their findings in the BMC Infectious Disease Journal, and the results will have you packing extra hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in your carryon.
Not only were the plastic bins crawling with viruses, the researchers also discovered evidence of viruses on 10% of all the surfaces they tested. These included shop payment terminals, staircase rails, passport checking counters, children's play areas and in the air.
"The new findings support preparedness planning for controlling the spread of serious infectious diseases in airports. The results also provide new ideas for technical improvements in airport design and refurbishment," said Niina Ikonen, a virology expert from the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare in a statement.
Rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, was detected the most. The researchers also found traces of the influenza A virus. Swabs of toilet surfaces did not reveal any respiratory viruses.
"People can help to minimize contagion by hygienic hand washing and coughing into a handkerchief, tissue or sleeve at all times but especially in public places," said Jonathan Van Tam, a Professor of Health Protection at the University's School of Medicine in the statement. "These simple precautions can help prevent pandemics and are most important in crowded areas like airports that have a high volume of people travelling to and from many different parts of the world."
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Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless carries a $95 annual fee but offers plenty of ways to get more value from it year after year. You’ll get automatic Silver elite status, which awards 10% bonus points on stays, and enjoy a pathway to Gold status (with 15 elite night credits each year) to lock in some even better benefits. Cardholders also receive an annual free night certificate (worth up to 35,000 points) each cardmember anniversary. Those who can maximize this certificate can lock in a room with a rate far exceeding the $95 annual fee.Pros
- Annual free night certificate (up to 35,000 points) each cardmember anniversary
- Automatic Silver elite status with a pathway to Gold
Cons
- There are better Marriott cards if you want higher tier status or no annual fee
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after qualifying purchases.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC