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boomer55

(592 posts) Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:49 AM Oct 2014

From the CDC ebola in body fluids can survive up to several days at room temperature. [View all]

How long does Ebola live outside the body?
Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach). Ebola on dried on surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/qas.html

So saliva is a body fluid. If somebody with ebola sneezes then those droplets can survive and possibly infect someone several days later?

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From the CDC ebola in body fluids can survive up to several days at room temperature. [View all] boomer55 Oct 2014 OP

spit on your counter and see how long it takes to evaporate snooper2 Oct 2014 #1

what about in food, water and other things? boomer55 Oct 2014 #3

The virus can live in a decmposing body for several days. MohRokTah Oct 2014 #2

After the droplets dry up the virus will die in a few hours. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #4

i'm not panicking.... I'm trying to understand the implications.. Can food or drink be infected for boomer55 Oct 2014 #5

Don't eat or drink anything that somebody else has sneezed or bled on. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2014 #6

Don't let people sick with ebola hang out around your food. End of problem. kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #8

Once the virus dries out it dies. Proteinaceous debris like saliva or blood can protect it from kestrel91316 Oct 2014 #7

There seem to be little square boxes around some peoples heads boomer55 Oct 2014 #9

I am glad I do not live in Paris or London at the moment (have to travel there however...) macllyr Oct 2014 #10