Is it possible for H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) to spread through courier or mails coming from infected areas?
January 26th, 2010 | by admin |
mainhonaaaa asked:
Or the question could be – how long a H1N1 virus can stay live on an object?
Or the question could be – how long a H1N1 virus can stay live on an object?
Please quote the source too with your answers or better if a specialist can answer this question.
8 Responses to “Is it possible for H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) to spread through courier or mails coming from infected areas?”
By Raindrops on Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
Depending on temperature and humidity it can live on a surface for 2-8 hours.
By The mom on Jan 29, 2010 | Reply
Direct from the CDC,
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface
Given this life expectancy, you would not likely be in any danger from a letter mailed from an infected person under most circumstances. And while this flu has everyone’s attention, the fact remains you are more likely to pick up other kinds of bacteria and virus you don’t want as well, from inanimate objects like books and doorknobs. You should still be washing your hands before you eat, no matter where your hands have been or been touching. Before I’d worry about the mail, I’d be worried about the money you have touched. That and public keyboards (even home keyboards for that matter) are far nastier in terms of the gerbies. Just wash your hands before you eat, and you don’t have to worry about what might be living on the surfaces of things.
By arun on Jan 31, 2010 | Reply
no dude..it will not spread through any media like by post or by mails or couriers………………..it spread through air like media
By doc_holliday1863 on Jan 31, 2010 | Reply
I say it could spread that way because someone with the flue could have licked the envelope and someone else opens the letter with a swety hand and bruses the glued aera that would reactivate the virus,
By dipper on Feb 1, 2010 | Reply
You can go here and find answers to everything you wanted to know about Flu+,(current pandemic H1N1) how to treat and read first hand accounts.Detailed Info. You will find laypersons – professionals who have an interest in Pandemics and the welfare of humanity.
Open since 2006 non profit FluTrackers
If you join(free) you can join in the deliberation room and from what I have been studying and reading the virus can live longer than what is suggested. 2-8 hours not just dependent on temp and humidity.
Some suggest the amount of viral shedding makes a difference as well on how it is transferred on surfaces and through air.
There is alot the scientist dont know about the Flu virus.
By namairb2 on Feb 4, 2010 | Reply
Not in any real sense of the word. This is a respiratory illness and is spread by one infected person sneezing or coughing without covering both nose and mouth. Then these infected droplets infect everyone within 25 feet of them too. This would infect everyone in a crowded elevator, airplane or crowd. The only possible way for this to happen is if an infected person did this and these drops getting on the mail, like if the infected person was the one delivering it to your house. Then the virus would get directly on your hand and if you touched your nose/and or mouth that would be possible too. I’m not to sure what the statistics of this happening are, but never say never either. As far as these virus germs living, according to almost all sources already listed here and some places and websites state 2-8 hours, but since everyone is different this might be longer or shorter. Most infected areas would be aware of when and where their mail was picked up. These local post office would most likely be taking precautionary measures anyway to insure the health of their workers too. Good luck and God Bless
By kirby on Feb 5, 2010 | Reply
It depends. I believe the longest time it can live on surfaces is 12 to 24 hours, and only suitable for soft surfaces like cloth, leather rubber, etc. I don’t think they can live long enough on metal, wood, glass surfaces, hard surfaces in particular, as far as I know.
By Craig C on Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
Yes. viruses survive for 2-8 hours. Even if swine flu doesn’t turn dangerous now it may well do in the next few years. Even though WHO have said that 2 BILLION people will get swine flu the chances are that this pandemic will only get worse and infect 100% of the world’s populations and could end up killing hundreds of millions of people. I feel that this is only the start of a catastrophic pandemic which will leave many dead.
Good luck and God bless.