A new study has found that a virus can spread throughout a whole building within two hours of coming into contact with only one surface, The Independent reported on Tuesday.
A research team at the University of Arizona, Tucson found that when a virus, for example the norovirus, contaminates a single door knob or elevator button, it spreads rapidly through entire hotels, hospitals or office buildings.
The team, led by microbiologist Charles Gerba, used bacteriophage MS-2 as a surrogate for the human norovirus due to its similar shape, size and resistance to disinfectants.
They placed it on a single surface that is commonly used, such as a door knob or table, at the beginning of a day in office buildings, conference rooms and in a health care facility in Arizona.
Researchers then tested surfaces that are able to carry infectious organisms, such as light switches, bed rails, table tops, countertops, coffee pots handles, sink tap handles, door knobs, phones and computer equipment for traces of the bacteriophage at various times between two and eight hours later.
They found that up to 60 percent of the surfaces sampled were contaminated with the virus within just two to four hours.
However, there is a simple solution for combating the spread. Gerba, who found using disinfecting wipes registered as effective against viruses like norovirus and flu, said that along with hand hygiene, these efforts reduced the spread by between 80 and 99 percent.
Gerba concluded: "The results show that viral contamination of (surfaces) in facilities occurs quickly, and that a simple intervention can greatly help to reduce exposure to viruses."
His research was debuted at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington.
