Don't Get Sick

DON'T GET SICK KNOW WHERE BACTERIA AND VIRUSES LIVE Bacteria and viruses lurk everywhere – but how long are they really able to survive outside the body and on surfaces? It all depends on a number of factors: the humidity, temperature and type of surface all matter. Check out how long the most infamous microorganisms are able to survive on a surface – as well as their "loves" and "hates." TEMPERATURES AIR QUALITY SURFACES 70° Soft (cloth, paper, skin) metal, plastic) Hard (wood, Moisture/ Humidity Cold Hot Room Dry air temps temps temps 1 month 1 day A few hours SURVIVAL TIME HATES H...( LOVES ON A SURFACE 2 weeks RHINOVIRUS The common cold Half a day to two days A few days to a week 70° INFLUENZA E. COLI The flu Food poisoning A few days to weeks Weeks *Over 160°F 70° MRSA SALMONELLA Antibiotic resistant bacteria Food poisoning Weeks Months *Over 140°F *Over 185°F 70° NOROVIRUS HEPATITIS A Stomach flu Food poisoning DIRTY SURFACES THAT CAN MAKE YOU SICK These places are especially good at storing dangerous microorganisms. IN THE KITCHEN AT THE OFFICE OUT IN PUBLIC Rubber Fridge water dispenser Blender Sink faucet Microwave Keyboards handles Gas pump handles Mailbox handles Escalator rails spatula door handles Illustrations: Shutterstock and The Huffington Post Sources: Dr. Soniya Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., University of California, Los Angeles; Dr. Aaron Glatt, M.D., executive vice president at Mercy Medical Center and spokesperson for the Infectious Discases Society of America; Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; The University of Chicago Medicine MRSA Rescarch Center; National Health Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; Food Safety Watch; Virginia Department of Health; Washington State University; Food Safety Network; Kimberly Clark Professional; National Science Foundation; Infection Control Today THE HUFFINGTON POST