Ah choo! Germs are all around you and can survive longer than you would think.
Asked by: Max E Jones, USA
On a hard, non-porous surface like a door handle, most viruses are destroyed within 24 hours.
The survival time for bacteria is more variable. Salmonella only lasts four hours, but MRSA can last several weeks and C. difficile has been found to survive for up to five months. On clothing or skin, the survival time is roughly halved. This may be because these surfaces dry out more quickly, or because they interfere with the bacteria’s ability to produce protective biofilms.
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Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
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