2007-02-11 04:19:03 · 3 answers · asked by Lyn 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Where on earth did Rocker Dude get his facts from?
Most cold and flu viruses can last anywhere from a few minutes up to about 2 days on an inanimate surface.
It depends on how porous the surface is and also on the virus. Some virus have a protein layer around the outside, like influenza, while other viruses have a lipid or fatty layer, like HIV.
In general, protein coated viruses last longer (which is bad in the case of flu), and lipid coated viruses have a very short survival time outside the body (a good thing in the case of HIV).
2007-02-11 05:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by Amuse Bouche 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The maximum is seven, 7, days.
The minimum is three, 3, days.
If the environment is favourable to their growth / metabolism (such as warm and humid days) then it will most likely surpass the seven day time duration.
This is why you should always wash your hands as they are the most likely surface "hosts" for bacteria and viruses to reside on. =)
2007-02-11 04:24:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋