How long does influenza last on surfaces

Summary

• Influenza (flu) is a viral disease that causes widespread illness every year.
• Immunisation and practising prevention measures for people who are at risk of complications from the flu are the best ways we can reduce the number of influenza infections and deaths.
• Flu immunisation is recommended for everyone from 6 months of age who want to protect themselves from the flu and its complications.
• People who work or live with people who are at risk of serious complications should also be immunised to avoid spreading the flu.
• The flu vaccine cannot give you a dose of influenza because it does not contain any live virus.
• You can receive your flu vaccine and your COVID-19 vaccine on the same day, one after the other if convenient. There is no time interval required between these vaccines.

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Flickr, Erich Ferdinand SOURCE: Flickr, Erich Ferdinand

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GREENVILLE, S.C. —

How long does the flu virus live outside the body and how can we kill it to stop the spread?

As the flu continues to sicken people and cause deaths across the country, some of the most commonly asked questions are how long does the flu virus last on various surfaces, and what can be done to prevent its spread in homes and workplaces.

Flu viruses are spread by infected people beginning at least one day before they have symptoms and up to a week after -- even longer for children. You remain contagious until your fever has been gone at least 24 hours, Mayo Clinic officials say.

People with the flu can spread it to others from up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets created when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk.

Flu viruses in droplets can survive in the air for several hours, and lower temperatures increase their survival rate, according to the National Health Service of England.

NHS officials say flu viruses don’t last long on hands, falling to low levels within about five minutes. But within those few moments, it is very easy to transfer the virus to eyes, mouths and noses, or leave it on surfaces where the virus will survive.

The flu virus can live on hard objects such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, kitchen countertops or toys for up to 48 hours, Mayo Clinic officials say.

Flu viruses survive less on porous surfaces, such as clothing, paper and tissue, experts say. Most flu viruses can live one to two days on nonporous surfaces, and 8 to 12 hours on porous ones.

A University Hospital of Geneva study found flu viruses on paper money survived up to 72 hours, but when mixed with human mucus, one Type A strain remained active for 17 days.

Soaps, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, chlorine and commercial germicides will all kill the flu virus on surfaces, according to CDC officials.

The flu virus is also killed by heat above 167 degrees, which may be attained in a dishwasher, but is too hot for handwashing. That makes soap an intrinsic element in killing the virus on hands.

Soap-and-water hand-washing for at least 20 seconds is needed to effectively kill the flu virus, experts say. If soap and water aren’t available for hand-washing, alcohol-based hand sanitizer will still work.

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