How to inactivate common cold viruses

There is something we can all do to prevent the common cold virus RSV from spreading: disinfecting hands and surfaces as well as gargling with mouthwash when symptoms occur. Every year, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) cause countless respiratory infections worldwide. For infants, young children and people with preexisting conditions, the virus can be life-threatening. The team from the Department for Molecular and Medical Virology at Ruhr University Bochum has explored ways to reduce the risk of infection. Their findings show that – when used correctly – alcohol-based hand sanitizers and commercially available surface disinfectants provide good protection against transmission of the virus via surfaces. The research team reports in the Journal of Hospital Infection of 23 August 2023. Some viruses are known to remain infectious for a long time on surfaces. To determine this period for RSV, the Bochum-based virology team examined how long the virus persists on stainless steel plates at...