# How long can flu viruses "live" outside humans?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 29, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148 "2017-06-29T18:04:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148/1 "2017-06-29T18:04:35Z")

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I have a flu but have had to go into the office for partial days anyway. I was trying to be diligent about hand sanitizer and frequent hand washing, haven’t been shaking any hands, been keeping my distance from everyone, and luckily I’m not sneezing. But if I did leave some virus particles on, say, a doorknob, how long would they remain able to infect a coworker?

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**Author:** ![Rain\_Soaked](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@Rain\_Soaked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rain_Soaked)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148/2 "2017-06-29T18:11:56Z")

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According to the [Mayo Clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/expert-answers/infectious-disease/faq-20057907), they can survive for several hours.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148/3 "2017-06-29T18:41:23Z")

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> [@TSBG](#):
>
> I have a flu but have had to go into the office for partial days anyway. I was trying to be diligent about hand sanitizer and frequent hand washing, haven’t been shaking any hands, been keeping my distance from everyone, and luckily I’m not sneezing. But if I did leave some virus particles on, say, a doorknob, how long would they remain able to infect a coworker?

Hell, I’d be sending old fashioned memos and sneezing on them.

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-flu-viruses-live-outside-humans/790148/4 "2017-06-29T18:57:06Z")

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> [@TSBG](#):
>
> I have a flu but have had to go into the office for partial days anyway. I was trying to be diligent about hand sanitizer and frequent hand washing, haven’t been shaking any hands, been keeping my distance from everyone, and luckily I’m not sneezing. But if I did leave some virus particles on, say, a doorknob, how long would they remain able to infect a coworker?

But you are breathing I assume. Breathing can spread viruses around. I usually get a cold a day or two after having just traveled in a plane. To avoid exposing others stay home.