Thu 6 Oct 2005
How long the virus can live on surfaces
Posted by Kym under Health & Wellness
I feel like I’m being so helpful with Blue Flu info 
I’m getting lots of emails. Amazingly, many people aren’t posting comments. I guess they don’t want to show their panic. So… I’m posting some info several folks have asked. When you think about “decontaminating” yourself if the virus hits here… here are things you need to keep in mind. This information is pulled from various sources including using the CDC Hemmoragic Fever protocols as well as various articles about H5N1. Here’s a link to a University of CA article on what kills the virus.
One particular point from the article above is that the influenza virus is extremely sensitive to almost any disinfectant. However, it is very difficult to inactivate the virus if it is in organic material, such as feces or saliva.
There are several ways to kill the virus.
1- Washing hands with regular soap for 20 seconds. So one assumes that washing clothes in very hot water would also work.
2- Bleach solution of 0.1% sodium hypochlorite in contact for 2 minutes. (whether this concentration is strong enough to discolor clothing is not known right now). Guess we should experiment.
3- 70% Alcohol can kill the virus too. This is recommended for disinfecting metal surfaces.
Shoes need to be cleaned too. I bought a tray (approx 12″ x 18″ x 2″) large enough to place my shoes to be sprayed and allow the soles to soak.
Remember when you undress to wear masks and goggles. Because virus can aerosolize and you can breath it in or it can enter the eye via conjuctiva….
More info….
The deadly virus infecting humans is known as H5N1. The virus can survive in water for four days in temperatures of 22 deg Celsius (71 deg F), and more than 30 days in 9 deg Celsius (48 deg F). In a humid environment this virus could live more than 30 days, while in places with enough sunlight, it can only last between 2 to 3 hours.
H5N1 cannot survive in temperatures of up to 60 deg Celsius (140 deg F) for 30 minutes or 56 deg Celsius (133 deg F) for three hours. It can be killed by using detergent and disinfectants, like formaline and other liquid containing iodine.
Scary thought for the day: How many people could one passed dollar bill infect?
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October 7th, 2005 at 6:22 pm
ok kym, I tried washing my hands for 20 seconds and that’s a long time!! I can’t imagine having my kids wash that long…I think I heard something about having your kids sing the happy birthday song, but I’m thinking that could get old pretty quick! what’s your feeling on the no soap stuff like purell?
October 8th, 2005 at 6:49 pm
Have you heard about the product ZeroPlus? It is supposed to protect your hands fromm bacteria, flu, etc for 60 hours. Something to think about. THanks for the SCARE. I need it, too. We all do.
October 9th, 2005 at 7:33 am
Make handwashing fun. Yes 20 seconds is a long time but, if they sing the “ABC’s” song twice while they are washing their hands, they will be washing their hands for 20 seconds. Have fun and keep those gems down.
February 3rd, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Within the H5N1 strain we have variations of cell structure, these are called Isolates. In the past few months H5N1 has evolved by capturing mammalian ploymorphism via recombination. In the past donor sequence was restricted to Avian receptors. But with H5N1 aquring 9 genes of polymorphism new isolates have evoved. Now we have isolate S227N and isolate EB-HN of H5N1 just to name a few. And as the pathogenic rate changes from LPAI to HPAI we must increase or change the decontamination solutions we use. The ratio of solutions and some of the solutions you list above will not work on all isolates of H5N1.