Emerging Infectious Diseases (Sep 2020)

Effect of Environmental Conditions on SARS-CoV-2 Stability in Human Nasal Mucus and Sputum

  • M. Jeremiah Matson,
  • Claude Kwe Yinda,
  • Stephanie N. Seifert,
  • Trenton Bushmaker,
  • Robert J. Fischer,
  • Neeltje van Doremalen,
  • James O. Lloyd-Smith,
  • Vincent J. Munster

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2609.202267
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 9
pp. 2276 – 2278

Abstract

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We found that environmental conditions affect the stability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in nasal mucus and sputum. The virus is more stable at low-temperature and low-humidity conditions, whereas warmer temperature and higher humidity shortened half-life. Although infectious virus was undetectable after 48 hours, viral RNA remained detectable for 7 days.

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