The 5 Germiest Airports in the Country

First-class travel, second-rate sanitation.

Could your next plane ride land you in the hospital? Air travel could be the reason for outbreaks such as SARS and H1N1, according to a new study by MIT’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The study looked at the 40 largest U.S. airports to see which would be most responsible for the spreading of contagious diseases. Here are the results:

1. John F. Kennedy (JFK)
2. Los Angeles International (LAX)
3. Honolulu (HNL)
4. San Francisco (SFO)
5. Newark Liberty (EWR)

Factors that contribute to spreading sickness? The geographic location of the airport is one; big hubs carry the illness from one town to the next. Long airport wait times and multiple flight transfers also play a role, since they increase the interaction you have among sick people. (Need plane reading? Pick up The Lean Belly Prescription, the no-diet health and weight-loss plan that’s better than running 5 miles a day!)

The same factors are the reason you’re at risk for any bug. But booking your flight doesn’t mean you’re doomed to be sick in the hotel your whole trip. These travel tips will keep you flu-free.

Wash Your Hands
In a recent study, 37 percent of men skipped hand-washing at JFK airport after going to the bathroom. The average person drops 2 million skin cells, which are covered in bacteria, in an hour, says Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Sickness spreads when you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching those skin cells. Use warm water, rub between your fingers, and wash for the length of the song Happy Birthday.

Aim Your Air
Aim the air vent above your seat so that it is blowing across your face, says Schmidt. “That disrupts the air flow around your most vulnerable mucus membranes, which are your nose, eyes, and mouth,” he says. This pushes germs away rather than dropping them on top of you. Even though the air is recycled on the plane, it will blow away the coughing and sneezing from the passengers around you. (For more surprising tips delivered right to your inbox every day, sign up for the free Men’s Health Daily Dose newsletter.)

Have a Brew
Having a drink in the air could help your body defend against germs, says Schmidt. “Alcohol can stimulate your immune system,” he says. Since alcohol is a mild poison, it aggravates your immune system to fight, and an aggravated immune system is an active immune system.

Go for the Middle
There’s an upside to being stuck in the middle. Since people try to avoid it, middle seats generally have fewer germs on the tray table, armrest, and seat, says Schmidt.

Be Antisocial
Sit at least one arms length away from other people so you won’t be breathing in their germs.

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