title: Survival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces.
abstract: To investigate the transmission of influenza viruses via hands and environmental surfaces, the survival of laboratory-grown influenza A and influenza B viruses on various surfaces was studied. Both influenza A and B viruses survived for 24-48 hr on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic but survived for less than 8-12 hr on cloth, paper, and tissues. Measurable quantities of influenza A virus were transferred from stainless steel surfaces to hands for 24 hr and from tissues to hands for up to 15 min. Virus survived on hands for up to 5 min after transfer from the environmental surfaces. These observations suggest that the transmission of virus from donors who are shedding large amounts could occur for 2-8 hr via stainless steel surfaces and for a few minutes via paper tissues. Thus, under conditions of heavy environmental contamination, the transmission of influenza virus via fomites may be possible.
mesh_terms: D003368:Gossypium; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission; D010209:Paper; D010969:Plastics; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D013193:Stainless Steel