You're only sitting closer to the GERMS: New research shows the aisle seat is the most contaminated place on a plane

• Passengers in aisle seats are exposed to more people moving throughout the cabin
• Increases your risk in picking up bacteria and viruses
• Case study showed a group who came down with a serious case of norovirus were mostly in aisle seats
• Plane was forced to make an emergency landing
• Window seat offers better protection

By Mail Online Reporter

Published: 00:02 EST, 30 November 2014 | Updated: 00:57 EST, 30 November 2014

The aisle seat is the most germ-infested part of an airplane to sit, according to an expert on infectious diseases.

Chuck Gerba, a microbiologist from the University of Arizona, has presented research that shows sitting in the aisle makes you the most vulnerable to being contaminated by other passengers.

The aisle puts people physically closer to passengers going to and from the bathroom.

Furthermore people touch and hold onto the aisle seats 'when walking to help keep their balance, increasing the risk of contamination', Gerba told io9.

He used a case study to demonstrate his findings following an incident in 2008.

Germy: A 2008 case study of six members of a tour group who came down with a serious bout of norovirus - the winter vomiting bug - revealed that most of them to contract it (marked with an X above) were in aisle seats

The incident occurred on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles.

A tour group on the flight came down with norovirus, better known as the winter vomiting bug.

The virus spread and their symptoms escalated.

Many had bad diarrhea as well as vomiting.

The symptoms were so serious the plane had to make an emergency landing in Chicago so the group could be taken to hospital.

Maybe get the window next time: The aisle seat is the most germ-infested on the plane because of the high-number of people the passenger comes in contact with moving around the cabin

Afterwards the Center for Disease Control and Prevention contacted all passengers to determine if and how the virus spread on the plane.

They discovered the majority of people who caught the bug were in aisle seats.

They were much more susceptible to the virus after being so close to the sick people going to the bathroom.

'Most people have probably never counted, but your average plane flight will have just one toilet per fifty people; and (on some flights), that number is closer to 75,' Gerba told io9.

'And remember, these planes see hundreds of passengers a day.'

Remember to always bring hand sanitizer with you when you fly, experts say

Gerba said this increase in germs leads to the bathrooms being melting pots of different bacteria.

Norovirus, seasonal flu, the common cold and E. coli are often found in the bathrooms of airplanes.

Gerba recommended people opt for the window seat if they have a chance.

He also said to always carry and use hand sanitizier when flying to further try and protect yourself.