Flu Could Hitch A Ride On Banknotes

New Scientist ^ | 6-22-2007 | Debora MacKenzie

[blam]

Flu could hitch a ride on banknotes

16:02 22 June 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Debora MacKenzie, Toronto

The flu virus persists so well on banknotes that money could help spread the next pandemic, researchers say.

Yves Thomas and colleagues at the University Hospitals of Geneva in Switzerland dripped various strains of flu virus – including some that were circulating during winter 2007 – onto Swiss banknotes and left them at room temperature for varying amounts of time before testing for live virus.

"We wanted to assess the survival of human flu on banknotes, knowing that billions of them are exchanged daily," Thomas says.

Money is so widely exchanged among all members of society that its movement has been studied as a model for the way infections spread.

At home in mucus

Some strains of flu lasted only two hours, but the most common flu, H3N2, lasted up to 72 hours.

However, all the strains lasted longer when they were dripped onto the notes along with human nasal mucus. Some lasted as long as 17 days. One strain that lasted only two hours on its own lasted 24 hours in mucus.

"I'm surprised the virus persisted so long," says Graeme Laver, an expert in the spread of bird flu, formerly of the Australian National University in Canberra. But the flu virus likes wet environments – and mucus is ideal because it is designed to retain water.

Touch transmission

Typically humans with flu shed copious amounts of virus in their nasal secretions, the main route by which flu is believed to spread.

[blam]

A couple years ago I read a study initiated to determine how much bacteria, etc was on money in general circulation. On Thousands of bill tested in all parts of the US, every bill had traces of cocaine. Human feces was pretty high on the list of contminants too.

BTW, don't ever try to decontaminate dollar bills by putting it in the microwave...I already did that test. (It set my money on fire, lol)

[IncPen]

I suggest we soak them in bleach.

Yeah, that’ll do it.

[blam]

"I suggest we soak them in bleach."

I did that test too.

Five minutes at 50% concentration works great.

[Redbob]

“Sorry stranger, your money’s no good here...”

[Man50D]

The flu virus persists so well on banknotes that money could help spread the next pandemic, researchers say.

All right folks I'm willing to make the sacrifice for your well being. Send me all your money if you want to stay healthy. ;o)

[Right Wing Assault]

You know, there’s enough iron in the black ink on bills to be attracted by a strong magnet. Hang the bill so it is not moving. Bring the strong magnet near a black area on the bill. It will move toward the magnet.

I wonder if the iron heats up and starts the fire. Plain paper usually doesn’t heat up in a microwave.

[yorkie]

I carry a tiny bottle of antibacterial hand sanitizer with me, like Germ-X or Purell. I recommend using it when:

You eat at a buffet (hundreds of people have touched those serving spoons)

You touch a door handle at a public place (like a fast food restaurant, post office, etc.)

You use salt, pepper, mustard or ketchup in a restaurant (be sure to us it before touching your food)

You handle coins or bills

You must push a cart in the grocery store

You use the ATM machine

And, the WORST germ-laden offender (next to money)?

The toothpick holder at a restaurant. It never gets sterilized.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Human feces was pretty high on the list of contaminants too.

Which reminds me of the joke about the Jewish guy who was sitting on one of the commodes in a public restroom. Someone entered the stall next door. The Jewish guy said, "Excuse me. Is there any toilet paper in your stall? Mine doesn't have any."

"Sorry--there's none here either."

"Maybe you got change for a twenty?"

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I’m not worried because I always wear a condom.

[wizr]

Many years ago, I worked in sewer lines and pumping stations. Some people think it might be a dirty job. Well, somebody had to do it. I usually got the jobs nobody else wanted, and made the best of them.

Anyway, if I was asked what I thought of the germs, I would reply: “If I was to worry about such things, I’d worry more about the number of hands that have touched the money in my pocket.” Not that there ever was much!

Thanks for the post.

[PAR35]

It’s the government’s fault.

They’ve made it illegal to launder your money.

Coins are another matter. I know that the Peabody Hotel in Memphis used to wash all of its coins before they passed them out in change. They used an old-fashioned tub type washing machine. I don’t know if the practice continues.

[mewzilla]

For once I can see the need for money laundering....

[jiggyboy]

Screw this “virus” propaganda, I ain’t using a credit card to help VISA determine where and when I bought two damn doughnuts.