Question

How long can viruses last?

Answer 1

Viruses

1. The virus is dormant and dead outside the body; however, once it enters the living body, it becomes active.
2. Most viruses can persist for a surprising amount of time outside the body.
3. Viruses like the norovirus, for example, can persist on a surface for weeks (provided the conditions are right).
4. Normally, a virus's genetic material, RNA, is surrounded by protein.
5. As a result, proteins are exposed to environmental conditions from time to time in order to maintain their activity.
6. The virus generally kills when these proteins break down.