Japan Coronavirus Research: Survives on Skin for 9 Hours – Requires Hand Washing | HEALTH



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The coronavirus remains active on human skin for nine hours, Japanese researchers found, which they say indicates the need for frequent hand washing to combat the pandemic.

In contrast, the flu-causing pathogen survives on human skin for about 1.8 hours, according to a study published this month in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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“Survival for 9 hours of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus strain that causes COVID-19) in human skin may increase the risk of contact transmission compared to IAV (influenza A virus),” thus accelerating the pandemic ”, as reported.

Researchers examined a skin sample taken from an autopsy of Covid-19 victims about a day after their death.

Fortunately, both the coronavirus and the flu virus are inactivated within 15 seconds when ethanol, which is contained in hand antiseptics, is applied to the skin.

“Longer survival of SARS-CoV-2 in the skin increases the risk of transmitting the virus through contact; hand hygiene can reduce this risk,” the study noted.

The study supports the World Health Organization guidelines for regular and thorough hand washing to reduce the spread of the virus, which has infected nearly 40 million people worldwide since it first appeared in China late. from last year.



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