The hot zone for exposure is generally two seats beside, in front of and behind you, according to a study in July in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WSJ: Where Germs Lurk on Planes

The epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-03 suggested a wider exposure zone, however.

WSJ: Where Germs Lurk on Planes

The second EPZ, called the ingestion exposure pathway zone, includes residents within a 50-mile-radius from the nuclear reactor.

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Their tool kits are noticeably lacking in immediate responses to a crisis that affects not only one, but each and every euro zone nation that has bank exposure to troubled debt.

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He was disoriented and unconscious, but alive -- a miracle considering his exposure in the death zone.

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Not all Russell 1000 stocks break out their revenues geographically, but among those that do, RBC found that those with more than 20% of exposure to the Euro zone have significantly underperformed the broader index since July.

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There is a risk that some euro-zone commercial banks could face heavy losses on their exposure to the Greek economy.

WSJ: Europe Girds for Greek Exit

Glaxo has been funneling cash back to the U.K. daily from banks in euro-zone countries as part of its strategy to reduce exposure to risks of a possible breakdown of the European monetary system.

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The bigger concern, however, is not banks' direct exposure to government bonds, which average just 5% of euro-zone banks' assets, but the impact on their financing.

ECONOMIST: Sovereign risk and the banks