Question: How Long Can the Hepatitis Virus Live Outside the Body?
Answer: The viruses that cause hepatitis can live outside the body and be infectious for certain periods of time. A good rule of thumb is that wet material is infectious and dried material is much less infectious. Here's a closer look at each one of the five hepatitis viruses:
Hepatitis A Virus
The hepatitis A virus, or HAV, is relatively hardy. In good conditions, it can survive outside the body for months. HAV can survive certain acids and some heat. For a period of time and under certain conditions, HAV can survive in sea water, dried feces and live oysters.Hepatitis B Virus
The hepatitis B virus, or HBV, can still be infectious for up to a week outside the body.Hepatitis C Virus
The hepatitis C virus, or HCV, can live outside the body for up to 4 days. However, many experts think it usually survives up to 16 hours at room temperature.Hepatitis D Virus
This virus needs help from the hepatitis B virus to be infectious, so it only infects someone with hepatitis B.Hepatitis E Virus
This virus is spread similar to the hepatitis A virus and causes acute disease similar to the others.Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 8, 2006. Viral Hepatitis.
Sjogren, MH. Hepatitis A. In: M Feldman, LS Friedman, LJ Brandt (eds), Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8e. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2006. 1639.
