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wizeman wizeman
 
M$2 February 12, 2009 09:42 PM

Why does low absolute humidity make it easier for viruses to propagate?

I'm asking this in follow up to the article I read here: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/02/10/low-humidity-levels-help-flu-germs-spread.html
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nyssa nyssa
 
 February 12, 2009 10:12 PM
Many viruses are dormant in their spore phase. The article you were reading is about the flu virus. When these spores dry up (when the conditions are right for their coatings to rupture. Different spores have different conditions that need to be met) they rupture and release the virus encased inside allowing them to multiply.

So low moisture in the air like (in winter heating) flu virus spores hanging around dry and release the virus inside and allow them to multiply and make people sick.
Source(s):
Biology class.

Asker's Rating:
• Thanks! I guess I should have paid more attention in biology class :D


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cyber34 cyber34
 
February 12, 2009 09:53 PM
As both articles say, it seems that recent tests have shown that influenza lives longer, in a low absolute humidity environment. A longer life on each individual virus would mean the farther it can travel and still be potent, and the farther it can travel, the more likely you are to be infected.
Source(s):
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090210/981/tsc-influenza-outbreaks-linked-to...


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cee-jay cee-jay
 
February 12, 2009 10:22 PM
I was always told that humidity, helps the spores multiply and spread due to the heat and dry air. Makes them more available to travel, because there is so many.

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