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kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

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

Reply to boomer55 (Original post)

Wed Oct 8, 2014, 12:03 PM

Oct 2014

drying for just so long, and then it's dry and noninfectious. Sneeze droplets dry out pretty quickly.

Liquid blood (for instance in a test tube) can remain infectious for days. Same for urine or feces or vomitus if it were just put in a container and kept from drying. Generally nobody does that though. Urine and feces go into the toilet, where the sewage treatment does the virus in. Vomit gets cleaned up, but if it's still wet when it's cleaned up then it's a hazard.

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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