The plastic boxes at airport security checks are virus traps

Kjevik airport in Kristiansand.Photo: Tor Erik Schrøder / SCANPIX

The plastic boxes used at security control are the worst virus carriers at airports showed a new study.

 

The British-Finnish study was conducted during the 2015-2016 flu season as part of an EU initiative reported Swedish Radio.

In three cases, a Finnish airport was tested for the presence of viruses that hit the respiratory tract. Samples were taken in a number of places where many passengers travelled and of the objects they touched.

The researchers found, among other things, influenza A and B viruses, adenovirus and rhinovirus in playrooms, toilets,stairways and keys at card terminals.

10% of the samples showed respiratory viruses, and the worst were from the plastic boxes that bags, jackets and other objects are put in when they are scanned in the security check.There were also viruses in the playroom and the games areas.

“The plastic checkboxes seem to pose the greatest potential risk,and touching these is virtually unavoidable for outgoing passengers,” the researchers wrote, saying that this could pose a significant risk of international virus outbreaks.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today