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Most sources indicate that once in the air, the viruses would drop onto surfaces and not stay floating in the air for any length of time since they are carried in the air on respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes, and the weight of the droplets would cause them to fall. We know that some viruses can stay active 2 hours or longer* on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. The time of viability of the viruses is affected greatly by the humidity in the location where they have been transferred to the surfaces. The drier the air, the shorter the time they are able to remain active and infect our cells to replicate.
From the CDC and Flu.Gov web pages:
The H1N1 virus is new. Research is being conducted to better understand its characteristics. 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 like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) says :
"The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and a soft surface for around 20 minutes."
*Different time frames are found referenced about the length of time viruses can remain viable on surfaces outside a living host. It is also often quoted that they can "live" for 24 to 48 hours on nonporous environmental surfaces and less than 12 hours on porous surfaces before becoming inert. This is being studied for the specific length of time H1N1/09 can stay active outside a host but the results of those studies are not yet back.
See also the related question section below for the question asking if swine flu is "airborne".
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Is the flu caused by a bacterial or viral infection?
Influenza is caused by a virus. its straight up a virus...
What type of immune cells are in the Swine Flu?
None. Swine flu is an illness caused by the pathogen known now as swine flu virus, A-H1N1/09 influenza. The illness contains no immune cells, nor does the virus. Your body responds to the presence of the virus with an immune response that sends your own immune cells to the area of your body where the flu virus has invaded. It is your body's immune cells that enter the "fight" and eventually get rid of the virus by constructing the type of immune cells called antibodies that are a perfect fit to inactivate the specific virus so it can no longer cause cell damage and symptoms of the flu. Your body then remembers the antibodies that worked to inactivate the virus so it can use them in the future if you are ever exposed to that virus again.
If you do not have a spleen can you die from the flu virus the swine flu?
Anybody can potentially die from any flu, swine or otherwise. Those without a spleen are at a higher risk of developing chest infections (like pneunomia), but the spleen does not have anything to do with fighting any type of flu or whether you will die from it.
Flu virus gestation?
How long does it take from contact with the flu virus to showing symptoms?
What is the name of the virus that causes influenza?
Influenza is caused exclusively by viruses in the Orthomyxoviridae family.Viruses are not true cells and are metabolically inert until they are attached or inside of a host cell of a plant or animal (including humans).
Is the Swine Flu caused by a virus or a bacteria?
It is caused by a virus called A-H1N1/09 influenza virus (aka swine flu).
Is the Swine Flu a fungus or a parasite?
Neither. The H1N1/09 "Swine Flu" is caused by a virus.
Is Swine Flu a bacteria?
No. The flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria.
Pictures of Swine Flu?
Just go to a image search engine like Google Images and type in Swine Flu or Swine Flu Virus.
Do you have to have a Swine Flu needle to survive?
To survive what? Getting the swine flu? No, you do not have to be immunized to survive. Most people will survive getting the flu, but older people and really young people are at risk of dying.
Why did they rename Swine Flu?
the official name for the swine flu is the H1N1 virus. At first, it was believed that the virus came from pigs, but now that we are convinced it actually does not, we refer to it as the H1N1 virus. However, it is still very commonly known as the swine flu.
What is a H1N1 virus?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. The "classical" swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. Swine flu viruses cause illness in pigs, but the death rates are low. This new virus, although it is being called "swine flu," is not the same virus.
Can Swine Flu mix with another virus?
Yes. In fact the way the H1N1 pandemic swine flu was formed by the mixing of a human flu virus, a bird flu virus and a swine flu virus in a pig. When two similar viruses that are infecting the same cell exchange genetic material this is known as reassortment. They go on to form a new virus.
What type of virus is the H1N1 classified as?
It is a Type A Influenza virus with RNA genome.Also called Swine Flu, the 2009 Pandemic Flu, 2009 Swine Flu, and A-H1N1/09.
How does the Swine Flu virus survive?
The swine flu H1N1/09 virus survives as do all viruses, by invading a host to support it and do its work to reproduce. Viruses can not live without a host to infect. That is why some viral diseases have been eliminated by vaccination programs, if everyone is vaccinated, no one becomes a host. Don't let flu viruses survive inside you, get a flu vaccination every year prior to flu season.
What is A H1N1?
Swine Flu is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. The "classical" swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. Swine flu viruses cause illness in pigs, but the death rates are low. This new virus, although it is being called "swine flu," is not the same virus.
Is the swine flue a fungus?
Swine Flu A-H1N1/09 is caused by a virus, not by a fungus. The virus is a Type A Influenza strain named A-H1N1/09 or also called the Pandemic Swine Flu virus among other names around the world.
