How Long Do Cold and Flu Germs Stay Alive After Infected People Hack and Sneeze All Over Everything?

In answer to the titular question – the duration varies and to a large extent depends on where the germs have fallen. The average lifetime of flu and cold germs ranges from a couple of minutes to more than 48 hours, however, how long it retains its infecting behavior for is a much more difficult question to answer. Studies have revealed that these germs remain more active on hard surfaces such as plastic and steel in comparison to softer surfaces like fabric, with flu germs lasting longer than cold germs regardless of the surface. Temperature, humidity in the air and the mass that has been deposited are also some of the factors which determine the active lifetime of germs outside the human body.  As the colds and some particular types of flu spread fast, it can be inferred that contamination is possible through indirect modes of transmission. However, the primary process through which the virus spreads is direct contact, such as handshakes, with a person carrying the germ. The best method of avoiding infection is to maintain good personal hygiene through practices such as washing hands with soaps and other germ-eradicating solvents and to get flu shots or vaccines regularly to ensure flu-free lives.