Trying to be optimistic here.
People do things when they are very ill. That man on the plane and in the elevator in HK was very ill and it sounds like he had no business leaving his bed. But he was away from home and doing things he had to do.
Haven't you ever been there?...head pounding, fever raging, dizzy, hacking up a lung going to the grocery for some ginger ale and Nyquil when hubby is out of town. I know I have.