Teacher:Given a passage and a query based on the passage, generate an unambiguous, concise and simple answer to the query from information in the passage. Note that the answer may not be present in exact form.
Teacher: Now, understand the problem? Solve this instance: The length of time that cold or flu germs can survive outside the body on an environmental surface, such as a doorknob, varies greatly. But the suspected range is from a few s econds to 48 hours - depending on the specific virus and the type of surface. Flu viruses tend to live longer on surfaces than cold viruses do. How long do microbes like bacteria and viruses live on surfaces in the home at normal room temperatures? Art Dekenipp Alvin, Texas. The answer is probably not what you want to hear: Microbes can live on household surfaces for hundreds of years. The good news, however, is that most don't. Some well-known viruses, like HIV, live only a few seconds. Microbes, of course, are everywhere. Each square centimeter of skin alone harbors about 100,000 bacteria. And a single sneeze can spray droplets infested with bacteria and viruses as far as 3 feet. It can last up to 2 weeks. The length of time that cold or flu germs can survive outside the body on an environmental surface, such as a doorknob, varies greatly. But the suspected range is from a few seconds to 48 hours - depending on the specific virus and the type of surface. Other factors, such as the amount of virus deposited on a surface and the temperature and humidity of the environment, also determine how long cold and flu viruses stay active outside the body. It's possible to catch the flu or a cold after handling an object an infected person sneezed or coughed on a few moments ago. How long can germs stay alive on a piece of paper?I am trying very hard not to get sick this year. When a student hands me a piece of paper, I try not to touch it. Am I being silly? Can I get sick from the paper? How long after an ill child touches the paper can I get sick from it? It depends on the type of germs or bacteria on the paper. Viruses cannot live for a full minute outside of the body because they need a living host. Once they fall out onto surfaces in that 3 to 6 foot distance, they can live on the surfaces for around 48 hours. See the related question below for more information on how long flu viruses live on surfaces. The flu is nothing like some of the nasty gastrointestinal viruses, like the bane of all cruise ship vacationers, norovirus. "Some of those viruses can survive on an object for months and withstand cleaning with bleach," Hay tells WebMD. "Influenza isn't like that." There have been studies of how long significant amounts of flu germs can survive on surfaces. Estimates range from a few minutes up to 24 hours, depending on the type of surface. (It lives longest on hard surfaces.) First of all, flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Second, any type of soap will do. "Time and thoroughness are what matters when it comes to washing your hands," says Schaffner. The length of time that cold or flu germs can survive outside the body on an environmental surface, such as a doorknob, varies greatly. But the suspected range is from a few s econds to 48 hours - depending on the specific virus and the type of surface. Flu viruses tend to live longer on surfaces than cold viruses do. Researchers have found that the microscopic infected droplets emitted in a cough or sneeze float around the air in large enough concentrations to spread disease. Breathing in airborne specks of virus found in a typical office, doctor's surgery, plane or train could infect a person after just one hour. The discovery gives a ring of truth to the old advice that you should never visit a doctor's waiting room unless you want to get sick. Query: how long does airborne flu germs stay alive
Student:
Airborne flu germs stay alive for around 48 hours.