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The Life of Swine Flu Virus on Surfaces

The swine flu or H1N1 virus can survive outside of the body and live long enough to infect another person. Knowing where the virus might be and how to kill the virus on surfaces can keep you from getting sick.

  1. How the H1N1 Virus gets on a Surface

    • The swine flu virus can easily get onto a table or other surface from an infected person. When an infected person touches their eyes, or covers their mouth while coughing, and then touches the table they spread the virus onto that surface.

    Surfaces Where H1N1 Lives

    • Like other flu viruses the H1N1 can survive on most any surface. Doorknobs, keyboards, and other surfaces touched by a lot of people will have more live virus on the surface.

    Lifespan of H1N1 on a Surface

    • H1N1 can live on surfaces for 2 to 8 hours. This means that if you touch a table up to eight hours after someone infected with the virus you can still get sick.

    Killing H1N1 on Surfaces

    • The CDC recommends that surfaces be cleaned with any household cleaning product or soap and water to kill and remove the swine flu virus from hard surfaces. Clothes, towels and other laundry should be washed and dried as usual.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you are sick with the H1N1 virus you can take several steps to prevent spreading the virus onto surfaces. Use tissues when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands frequently to keep the virus to yourself and avoid sharing.

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