H1N1 racks up frequent flier miles

Analyzing global flights may help researchers track pandemics

H1N1 didn’t have a ticket to ride, but that didn’t stop the virus from tagging along on airplane trips around the world. Scientists report online June 29 in The New England Journal of Medicine that they’ve compared flight data with H1N1 influenza infections, and such flight patterns could help public health workers understand how pandemics extend their reach.