What is the lifespan of a typical germ?

Question

If i have flu, and I cough into a handkerchief, scrunch it up and put it in my pocket, will the germs in the handkerchief still be harmful hours, days, weeks and months later?

Answer 1

Flu is caused by a virus. A germ is a different thing, in that it is a living cell, whereas a virus is generally not thought of as being alive. Germs appear to be able to live for many years if they are kept in the right environment. There was an article in New Scientist (I think ?) where bacteria had been dug out of an ice core in the Antartic. The surrounding ice was dated to be millions of years old. When the ice was melted the bacteria sprang back to life and began multiplying like nothing had happened !

Answer 2

First off, germ is a vary wide and vague term. Secondly, there is no such thing as a typical germ.

You have a flu. Flu can be bacterial or viral. Antibodies control and kill bacteria. Nothing cures a virus. The virus stays dormant in nature until conditions allow it to become active. Then it runs through it's life cycle.

So, if you have a viral infection and cough some of the virus on something, then yes, it is possible for that virus to become active once again.

That's why people should stay home when they catch a cold or flu. That's why doctors tell you to wash your hands. That's why is it a good idea to stay away from sick people.

Answer 3

That is a very interesting question, I don't know if I am confused with bacteria, but I read somewhere that anthrax and the like can lay dormant for hundreds of years, or indeed thousands

Answer 4

flu is caused by virus and viruses cannot breed without a
living organisms. so they will not be harmful as soon as they are seperated from living organisms

Answer 5

Flu virus is about two days.

Answer 6

Use disposable tissues rather than hankies; after one blow, a hankie can contain 20,000 viruses.