• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
Healthpublic health
Europe

Can you catch monkeypox on a plane? Here’s how health officials are calculating your risk

By
Chloe Taylor
Chloe Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chloe Taylor
Chloe Taylor
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 23, 2022, 12:14 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Monkeypox is continuing to spread across Europe and North America, and now British health officials are warning there could be some level of risk associated with plane travel.

In a document published Friday, the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) outlined the level of risk associated with different types of exposure to the virus.  

The highest risk of contracting the virus comes via direct contact with an infected person’s skin, mouth, nose, or bodily fluids, or contaminated clothes or bedding, the UKHSA said.

People in Britain deemed to be “high risk” contacts of confirmed monkeypox cases after being exposed to the virus in any of these ways are now being advised to self-isolate for three weeks.

Meanwhile, being seated directly next to a monkeypox case on a plane, sharing a car or taxi, or being within 1 meter of an infectious person without wearing appropriate PPE, were scenarios that would put an individual at “medium risk” of exposure to the virus, the UKHSA said.

Full PPE against monkeypox consists of an FFP3 mask, a long-sleeved gown, gloves and eye protection, according to the organization.

People found to have had any of these “medium risk” forms of contact with an infected person are not being advised to self-isolate by the UKHSA, but the health body said it would offer them a smallpox vaccine, ideally within four days of exposure to the virus.

Smallpox, which was eradicated from circulation decades ago thanks to vaccines, is from the same virus family as monkeypox, and so smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox.

While sitting directly next to an infected person on a plane fell into the UKHSA’s medium risk category, sitting within three rows of a monkeypox patient on a flight was categorized as a low-risk activity.

Someone who had this level of contact with an infectious person would not require a vaccine, the UKHSA said, and could carry on as normal after the flight as long as they remained asymptomatic.

People who were sat more than three rows away from a monkeypox case on the case were not medically considered to have had any contact at all with the patient.

Rare for public surfaces to become contaminated

Last week, the CDC reportedly confirmed that it was monitoring six individuals who sat within three rows of a British person who later tested positive for the virus.

David Heymann, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told Fortune on Monday that in most cases, monkeypox infections were caused by physical contact.

“That means if one person who is not infected touches a person’s lesion, or sore, who is infected, if that sore is open and weeping it can put virus on the skin that enters the other person’s body through a microscopic entry point,” he said in a phone call.

Heymann stressed that it would be very rare for surfaces in public spaces to become contaminated with the virus.

“It’s a disease that hasn’t been studied well, so we’re just beginning to understand it. But I think it would be wrong to say it’s everywhere, and it certainly isn’t transmitted by the respiratory means that COVID-19 is transmitted,” he explained.

“We know how it’s transmitted, and if we do a risk assessment ourselves before we have close physical contact, we should be able to prevent ourselves from becoming infected.”

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
By Chloe Taylor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Health

Exclusive: Former OpenAI exec Fidji Simo discusses her battle with POTS and her startup’s plans to cure it with AI and 3,500 vials of blood (so far)
HealthOpenAI
Exclusive: Former OpenAI exec Fidji Simo discusses her battle with POTS and her startup’s plans to cure it with AI and 3,500 vials of blood (so far)
By Emily ForliniAugust 3, 2026
17 hours ago
Best Hair Serums (2026): Tested and Reviewed
HealthDietary Supplements
Best Hair Serums (2026): Tested and Reviewed
By Emily PharesAugust 3, 2026
20 hours ago
AstraZeneca said to have explored Bristol Myers merger
HealthPharmaceutical Industry
AstraZeneca said to have explored Bristol Myers merger
By Dinesh Nair, Michelle F. Davis, Ashleigh Furlong, Kelly Gilblom and BloombergAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
Photo of Hudson Leogrande
SuccessEntrepreneurs
He was homeless at 16. Now he sits on the board of David Beckham’s wellness company and his business is about to hit $1 billion in revenue
By Emma BurleighAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
A person walks alone in a public plaza
North Americapublic policy
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we’re paying with our health
By Catherina GioinoAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
Asia’s aging population doesn’t have to be a fiscal burden. With smart planning, it can be a growth opportunity
Commentaryaging
Asia’s aging population doesn’t have to be a fiscal burden. With smart planning, it can be a growth opportunity
By Runchana Pongsaparn and Koon Hui TeeJuly 31, 2026
4 days ago

Most Popular

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
North America
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
By Catherina GioinoAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
Magazine
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
By Alexei OreskovicAugust 3, 2026
1 day ago
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
AI
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
By Holly Van Leuven and Morning BrewAugust 3, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerAugust 3, 2026
1 day ago
Wall Street bulls are starting to admit the earnings bubble is real—and the 60/40 portfolio may be the first casualty
Investing
Wall Street bulls are starting to admit the earnings bubble is real—and the 60/40 portfolio may be the first casualty
By Nick LichtenbergAugust 3, 2026
21 hours ago
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
Economy
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
By Jason MaAugust 1, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.