Contraction of Respiratory Viral Infection During air Travel : An Under-Recognized Health Risk for Athletes - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Contraction of Respiratory Viral Infection During air Travel : An Under-Recognized Health Risk for Athletes

Authors: Ruuskanen Olli, Dollner Henrik, Luoto Raakel, Valtonen Maarit, Heinonen Olli J., Waris Matti

Publisher: Springer

Publication year: 2024

Journal: Sports medicine - open

Journal name in source: Sports medicine - open

Journal acronym: Sports Med Open

Article number: 60

Volume: 10

Issue: 1

ISSN: 2198-9761

eISSN: 2198-9761

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00725-5(external)

Web address : https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00725-5(external)

Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/421369266(external)

Abstract

Air travel has an important role in the spread of viral acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Aircraft offer an ideal setting for the transmission of ARI because of a closed environment, crowded conditions, and close-contact setting. Numerous studies have shown that influenza and COVID-19 spread readily in an aircraft with one virus-positive symptomatic or asymptomatic index case. The numbers of secondary cases differ markedly in different studies most probably because of the wide variation of the infectiousness of the infector as well as the susceptibility of the infectees. The primary risk factor is sitting within two rows of an infectious passenger. Elite athletes travel frequently and are thus prone to contracting an ARI during travel. It is anecdotally known in the sport and exercise medicine community that athletes often contract ARI during air travel. The degree to which athletes are infected in an aircraft by respiratory viruses is unclear. Two recent studies suggest that 8% of Team Finland members traveling to major winter sports events contracted the common cold most probably during air travel. Further prospective clinical studies with viral diagnostics are needed to understand the transmission dynamics and to develop effective and socially acceptable preventive measures during air travel.

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Funding information in the publication:
Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation. The founder had no role in the design, interpretation, and writing of the manuscript.