How Long Can Flu Live On Surfaces

The COVID-19 pandemic has fabricated united states change our hygiene practices. Nosotros're washing our hands more often and we're more aware of how germs are spread, and how we can stop them from spreading.

Many of usa have likewise started cleaning our household surfaces more regularly. So, yous may be wondering how long viruses and bacteria tin can alive on these surfaces.

Read on to learn about the different types of germs that tin can make u.s. ill, how long they can alive on surfaces, and what y'all can practice to avoid them.

Cold viruses

If you catch a cold, information technology's unremarkably because your hands have come up into contact with the nasal fluid (secretions) from someone who'due south infected with the cold virus.

This includes touching surfaces that are contaminated with a person'south germs: the virus and so stays on your hands and can get into your body if you touch your eyes, olfactory organ, or oral fissure.

Cold viruses tin alive on your hands and other surfaces like cups and plates, cutlery, door handles, keyboards, phones, and worktops for up to 24 hours.

Influenza virus

Flu (flu) is a viral infection that y'all tin can grab past breathing in droplets from an infected person after they sneeze, cough, or talk.

Like with a common cold, y'all tin can also go flu from direct contact with an infected person's nasal secretions, or by touching objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.

The flu virus can live on all surfaces in your dwelling house (including door knobs, tabletops, toilet flush handles, keyboards, phones and soft effects), for up to 48 hours, then it's important to clean these surfaces regularly to stop the spread of influenza. It tin besides live on hands for upwardly to 24 hours, so washing your easily frequently with soap and warm water will also stop the spread.

COVID-nineteen virus

It's idea that, like other coronaviruses, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets released when an infected person sneezes, coughs or breathes out. If you breathe in these droplets, or they come into contact with your eyes or mouth, you could grab the virus.

If droplets land on something, the coronavirus might exist able to survive for a few days on hard surfaces, such as tables and door handles. You could so be infected by touching the surface before touching your eyes, olfactory organ, or oral cavity, simply experts say transmission is less likely via contact with surfaces than animate in droplets.

Coronavirus can live on indoor surfaces for a few days, but after three days there volition be a 99% reduction in survival – so minimal take a chance of communicable Covid via contact with surfaces.

Streptococcal bacteria

Streptococcal infections are caused by a grouping of bacteria called Streptococcus ('strep').

They're usually spread from one person to another directly: if you breathe in aerosol released when another person sneezes or coughs, bear on someone who has the bacteria on their skin, or come into contact with an infected wound or skin sore.

Some studies suggest that sure species of Streptococcus can survive for long periods on surfaces, but in that location's a lack of testify well-nigh how long they can concluding.

Stomach viruses and leaner

Viruses, such equally the norovirus, are common causes of stomach bugs (gastroenteritis). Norovirus tin can final for weeks on surfaces like lift buttons and doorknobs.

Bacteria such as East. coli, salmonella and campylobacter can also crusade nutrient poisoning.

E. coli is commonly spread through contaminated food or water, or contact with infected animals, simply it can survive on surfaces like cooking utensils for several months.

MRSA

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a blazon of bacteria that's resistant to many types of antibiotics. It is spread through contact with infected people or contaminated objects.

MRSA can live on dry surfaces including piece of furniture, and gym equipment for months.

How to avoid getting ill from germs on surfaces

There are some general steps you can take every twenty-four hour period to assist you avoid condign ill through germs:

Avert close contact with people who are unwell with an infectious illness. Read more than about how long you're infectious subsequently a viral infection.
Wash your hands often, using soap and water or an booze-based sanitiser.
Endeavour not to bear upon your eyes, nose or oral fissure.
Keep your surroundings clean past using mutual household products to disinfect surfaces.
Norovirus (the winter vomiting bug) is the most contagious virus, because y'all shed billions of virus particles when you're infected. Although you are most infectious in the outset few days, you tin can nonetheless be contagious afterwards 2 weeks. Experts advise disinfecting surfaces or objects that could be contaminated with a bleach-based household cleaner, washing bedding at 60 degrees, flushing away vomit/ faeces, and washing hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before preparing food or touching contaminated surfaces.
Flu virus: Flu is also very infectious and you lot're about likely to pass information technology on to someone else within five days. Even so, flu viruses are relatively fragile so standard cleaning and disinfecting are sufficient to kill them off. Disinfectant wipes tin exist used for oft touched objects such as phones, keyboards, and door handles.
Coronavirus: Although you tin can catch coronavirus from surfaces, experts say this isn't the main way it is transmitted. Cleaning with household cleaners is generally sufficient unless someone in your household or who has visited your household has tested positive or is ill with coronavirus , in which example you should use disinfectants.

Your health questions answered

Tin germs live on article of clothing?

Germs tin get onto clothing from our own bodies, if our clothing touches contaminated objects or food, or from other people. How long they live on clothing depends on the type of germ. Underwear is more probable to accept germs on information technology, as it can bear germs from poo (faeces).

How long do flu germs live on hands?

There'due south not much bear witness about how long flu germs tin can alive on hands, simply one study found that they only live for a few minutes. Most experts think flu spreads mainly through droplets released when infected people coughing, sneeze or talk, which then get into the noses or mouths of people nearby. You should launder your hands with soap and h2o or use alcohol-based sanitiser to aid stop the spread of germs.

How long does the flu virus live in the body?

Upwards to about 11 days. It commonly takes about two days from picking up the influenza to having symptoms, but tin can take one to 4 days. This is called the incubation period. Generally, you can spread the influenza (you're contagious) from iii to iv days earlier y'all have symptoms. Then you're usually contagious for 5 to vii days after outset having symptoms.

Key takeaways

you lot can get sick if you bear on objects and surfaces that are contaminated with viruses or bacteria, and so touch your eyes, nose or rima oris
some viruses and bacteria tin can live on surfaces only for a few hours or a day, while others can survive for a few weeks or even months
washing your hands properly and often can reduce the spread of germs from contaminated surfaces
disinfecting household surfaces tin can besides cease the spread of germs that can brand you lot ill