How long could H1N1 virus live in a house?

[Peregrine Took]

My elderly SIL has just turned down a Thanksgiving dinner invitation at my niece's house because my college student nephew had the swine flu about 6 weeks ago.

She says a nurse told her that the germs might still be lurking in the house and at her age (80's) she can't take the chance of coming down with the flu.

Is it possible that the H1N1 virus could still be living at the house?

[madrchsod]

1. no......

the nurse should read the facts ...

[Cirque du So-What]

4. You would think

that a nurse would have a better ballpark estimate. Six WEEKS?!? It's not a spore, f'cryin' out loud!

[bluestateguy]

2. I've never heard that before

6 weeks? I believe a person who had the flu could be contagious for a few days after actually being sick, but 6 weeks?

I also think the longest a virus could live on an environmental surface would be 24-48 hours.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. I haven't seen anything specific to the H1N1 virus

but everything else I've read about flu viruses suggests they can live for a matter of hours - not days - much less six weeks.

[kestrel91316]

5. 6 hours would be a stretch. 6 weeks is absurd and impossible for influenza virus.

That nurse is an idiot.

[DesertRat]

6. 2 to 8 hours

Studies have shown that flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2 to 8 hours after being left on items.
http://answers.flu.gov/questions/3943

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. I was told by family Doc to stay home for 24 hours after the fever broke

I have not had the flu this year and shots are not available, so asked.

YMMV

[DavidDvorkin]

12. I think that has to do with how long the infected person is contagious

not how long the virus can survive outside the body.

[Peregrine Took]

8. Those were my feelings, too, but she is extremely paranoid about her health.

Who would rather be alone in a retirement home when they had an invitation to be with family in a real house with nice people, good food and conversation and all?

If I live to be 100 I'll never understand people.

[metapunditedgy]

9. Technically, it's possible that the virus could be passed from person to person

with a delay for incubation each time. And perhaps it was so mild that you didn't even notice it.

But I'm not a doctor, and if one starts thinking that way, they'd be afraid to even go outside.

[MercutioATC]

10. "Lurking"?

Are they building tiny little bunkers now?

The responses above are correct. The H1N1 virus is only viable for 4-6 hours after leaving the body.

[LeftishBrit]

11. No - could stick around for 6 hours perhaps, but certainly not 6 weeks

Maybe her concern is that other family members might still be coming down with the virus - but that would happen within 5 to 7 days, not 6 weeks.

[mopinko]

13. she should get the vaccine, then.

loneliness isn't good for you.

[Why Syzygy]

14. Her fear is probably a bigger risk factor.

If she is that fearful, she should stay home.

[Prometheuspan]

15. yes... but

"is it possible that the H1N1 virus could still be living at the house?"

the core question here is how much of the virus is transmitted. We are surrounded by things as bad and worse, they don't get to us because they never achieve high concentrations. For instance, almost everyone has most forms of staph. they don't have any symptoms and they arent considered contagious because the level or number of microbes per volume measurement is too low.

You have to ask yourself what medium the virus would survive on in the interim, and what percent would make it.