One of the most neglected yet most important aspect of passenger health and safety is the prevention of acquiring an illness or infectious disease while travelling in aircraft. People are becoming concerned about flying due to the potential of acquiring some kind of infection or illness. If passenger concerns reach a dangerous level, they could stop flying, as has happened twice in the past 20 years, and airlines could suffer significant financial losses.
CDC, WHO and other leading world health organisations report that 80% of disease is acquired by hand contact, not through inhalation. The only way to prevent acquiring an infection or disease is to have clean hands when eating or touching your mouth, nose, eyes, ears, etc. Problems are compounded if the passenger is caring for a child.
Built-in and centrally-fed technology that could give every passenger the ability to have clean hands while in their seat during an entire flight is available, yet it is not implemented. 1,826 passengers and crew surveyed reported the technology should be mandated.
The ability to have clean hands could prevent the acquisition of illnesses as minor as flu, colds, upset stomachs and infected eyes, to more serious conditions such as urinary tract, gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia and death. As Ebola, MERS, and many other exotic potentially deadly infectious diseases are becoming global problems, airlines should make enhanced health and safety capabilities available to all passengers.