# How long does the flu last in a room? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2024, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734 "2024-04-02T12:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/1 "2024-04-02T12:31:50Z")
I have the flu, or something. It’s not COVID, but I have a fever, some congestion, coughing. Feels like the flu to me. My wife is away. When she was around, I was quarantining myself in the office and guest room, and wearing a mask for my forays to other parts of the house. She comes back tomorrow afternoon. When do I need to start masking up and quarantining again? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/2 "2024-04-02T12:40:08Z")
Mr. Google thinks the answer is 24 to 48 hours. Cites from the Mayo Clinic and the NIH tend to agree, so it looks like Mr. Google isn’t a bad source in this particular case. > [@RitterSport](#): > > She comes back tomorrow afternoon. When do I need to start masking up and quarantining again? Yesterday, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/3 "2024-04-02T12:42:30Z")
Oh well. I guess I’ll start now. What a pain. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/4 "2024-04-03T22:36:39Z")
The critical point that you didn’t mention is when did your symptoms , like a fever, first start? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/5 "2024-04-04T11:12:10Z")
The started last on Saturday and come on strong on Sunday. Today (Thursday) was the first day I woke up without a fever. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/6 "2024-04-04T17:08:16Z")
So you were probably most infectious last Thursday evening & Friday, before your symptoms started. And it usually lasts 10 days, so by Monday you should be mostly over it. (Just in time to go to work!) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-flu-last-in-a-room/999734/7 "2024-04-04T17:50:15Z")
Well, thankfully, no one I know got it from me! Nice having something as non-infectious(!) as the flu instead of COVID.