Ever try to squeeze into an airplane restroom and thought, “This has to be the worst part of flying”? You’re not alone. Cramped like a phone booth—if you remember those—often grimy, and rarely stocked, it’s hardly anyone’s favorite part of the journey. Still, when you’ve got to go, it’s a relief to know it’s there. As odd as it sounds, those tiny restrooms are doing more than just serving travelers—they’re helping track global disease threats.

Here’s how airplane restroom disease surveillance works: after a plane lands, technicians collect wastewater from the onboard lavatories. That sample is then sent to a private lab where experts comb through it for genetic traces of infectious viruses. Within just 48 hours, scientists can detect if someone on board was carrying one of several illnesses—COVID-19, influenza A or B, norovirus, RSV, adenovirus, or mpox.

Even more impressive? This information is shared through a public dashboard that allows global health leaders to spot potential outbreaks in near real time. Flight paths are mapped, helping the CDC trace where the virus originated and how it’s spreading. That data shapes how public health officials prepare and respond to emerging threats.

It’s a stark reminder that illness doesn’t stop at borders. Admiral Brett Giroir, who led COVID testing efforts under President Trump and now advises HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., summed it up clearly: “Early warning could mean the difference between life and millions of deaths.” That quote came at the height of the pandemic, but its message still resonates today.

So, the next time you’re bumping elbows in an airplane lavatory, go ahead and grumble—but maybe also take a moment to appreciate the technicians who make this quiet form of disease detection possible. And of course, wash your hands!

Stay well and stay informed!