The Zika virus, which is primarily transmitted via the Aedes aegypti mosquito, can live for hours on hard surfaces and remain highly contagious, according to new research presented Tuesday at the 2016 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientist Annual Meeting and Exposition in Denver.
While Zika can remain contagious on hard surfaces for up to eight hours, the introduction of blood into the environment may cause the virus to remain highly contagious for even longer, according to the study.
Without blood, researchers found commonly used lab and clinical disinfectants like isopropyl alcohol, diluted bleach, quaternary ammonium/alcohol and peracetic acid successfully killed the virus. However, pH4 and pH10 solutions proved ineffective. When blood was introduced into the environment, the only cleaners that effectively eliminated the virus were isopropyl alcohol and quaternary ammonium/alcohol.
"The data were important to know especially for healthcare providers and researcher," said the study's lead researcher S. Steve Zhou, PhD, the director of virology and molecular biology for Microbac Laboratories in Pittsburgh. "One must bear the organic load of the environment, such as blood, in mind before reaching a conclusion about the Zika virus inactivation efficacy by a particular product."
On May 23, a lab worker from the University of Pittsburgh accidentally infected herself with Zika while working with the virus.
More articles on the Zika virus:
Zika still 'exceedingly rare' in blood donations
Mosquitoes can infect people with Zika & chikungunya simultaneously
Women contract Zika at higher rates than men