( CNN ) -- Ten years ago , international headlines were dominated by the shocking emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) , a new and quick-spreading deadly virus that began in Southern China and took just weeks to spread to 37 different countries . Perhaps the illness 's biggest legacy though is illustrating the speed and ease with which a disease can traverse the global travel network and how frequent flyers can often be in the front line . `` They 're more exposed because they 're in contact with a higher number of ( potentially infected ) individuals , '' says Yamir Moreno of University of Zaragoza , an expert in the spreading patterns of epidemics . `` While traveling , they remain confined in a relatively small space , where they interact with other passengers that , again , might already be infected . '' Though passengers often consider a plane pumping recycled air as an incubator for disease , such a viewpoint is inaccurate , according to Martin Fendt , a spokesman from plane manufacturing company Airbus . Only a portion of the air inside a plane is recirculated ; the rest is fresh air sourced from outside . The recycled air is passed through High Efficiency Particulate Air ( HEPA ) filters , which removes viruses , bacteria and dust . `` Because air is circulated vertically around each row and drawn out through under-seat floor vents , it can not move forward or aft . So the ability of viruses to transfer beyond a seat row is almost zero , '' he adds . Read more : Is the travel industry prepared for the next epidemic ? Fortunately , many of the health risks faced by road warriors can be easily mitigated with a little education . According to Gregory Hartl , a spokesman at the World Health Organization , `` if frequent travelers are aware of the risks , and take the required precautions , they can minimize the risk of acquiring disease . '' Phyllis Kozarsky , a medical consultant with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , confirms that reading up on an area before setting off is one of the best ways to safeguard one 's health . `` People need to be alert to pubic health messages and what 's emerging , be it SARS or H1N1 , '' she says . She adds that disease prevention is n't too different abroad as it is on the ground . `` Do the same things you would at home to avoid illness , mainly , wash your hands frequently . You can pick things up on your hands that you can transfer by rubbing your eyes , or touching your face . '' While epidemics attract the headlines sexually transmitted infections and vector- and food-borne illnesses still top the charts when it comes to mortality rates . `` Sometimes , when people are going to exotic places , they focus on strange diseases that do n't happen very often , like Ebola , that are strong media contenders , when actually , influenza or malaria might be the biggest risk , '' says Kozarsky . Andy Tatem , a reader in the Geology and Environmental Science department at the University of Southampton is the developer of vbd-air.com , a web tool developed for the Transportation Research Board to help track the spread of mosquito-transmitted illnesses via air travel . He believes the most prevalent travel-related ailments are also avoidable . `` Most of the diseases people contract abroad are preventable . In some instances , it 's just a matter of getting the right vaccine , or wearing insecticide and sleeping under a bed net , '' he says . `` Truthfully , outbreaks like SARS and H1N1 can be more difficult to avoid , because they can hit a city before you even know it . Whereas you can lower the risks of diarrhoeal diseases ( which are among the most prevalent ) simply by being careful with drinking water and making sure all the food you eat is cooked . '' Kozarsky reiterates the point , adding that many traveler afflictions are also self-treatable . `` If you have the right medication with you , you can feel better in a matter of minutes , instead of days , '' she notes . She advises consulting a good travel doctor for a list of recommended vaccines and medications ( the International Society of Travel Medicine has a global directory online ) . She also recommends venturing out to the drug store prior to travel . `` Go to your favorite pharmacy and walk up and down the aisles , and take the things off the shelf you 'd like to have at home , '' she advises , adding that Imodium and antibiotics are essential additions to any travel medical kit . Really , though , the biggest suitcase essential is common sense , `` which most people forget to pack when they travel , '' she says .
Frequent flyers in frontline of potential infectious diseases . Comment: Airbus spokesperson says chances of viruses being transferred is low . Most travelers should take same health precautions they would at home .