Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports

Ikonen, Niina; Savolainen-Kopra, Carita; Enstone, Joanne E.; Kulmala, Ilpo; Pasanen, Pertti; Salmela, Anniina; Salo, Satu; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S.; Ruutu, Petri

Symptomatic and asymptomatic respiratory tract infections are common among passengers [4] , with potential for transmission to fellow passengers during pre-embarkation and travel, or after arrival at destination, via multiple modes of transmission, including airborne, droplet and contact transmission. Transmission of a range of infections during air travel has been investigated and recommendations for control and incident investigation have been published [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] . Confirmed influenza transmission has also been reported aboard ships [10] , and transmission of influenza-like illness has been reported aboard ships [11] and trains [12] . The potential for airports to spread an infection causing pandemic threat globally has been modelled estimating how individual airports could contribute to an epidemic process [13] .