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Norovirus Can Linger on Clothes for Up to a Month, Expert Warns
Norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, can survive on clothes for as long as a month, an expert has warned. The bug, which causes nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, can also be found on fabric-lined items like chairs, pillows, and curtains. According to microbiologist Jason Tetro, clothing is like a “solid petri dish” because its porous fabric can trap the bug.
Tetro explained that synthetic materials, such as polyester, hold onto the virus longer than natural ones, like cotton and wool, because they are made from petrochemicals, which are “very oily”. He recommended washing and drying clothes in a high-heat setting, and using biological washing detergents to kill the virus.
The NHS warns against relying on hand sanitizer alone to stop the virus, as alcohol-based sanitisers don’t kill norovirus. Instead, washing hands thoroughly with hot water is the best line of defence.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend washing and drying clothes in a high-heat setting, using biological detergents, and running an empty hot-water cycle with bleach once a month to clean the washing machine.
The number of norovirus cases has surged by 40% compared to previous years, with 4,523 reports of the virus recorded in the UK. The NHS advises that most people with norovirus will recover at home without needing to visit a doctor, but if symptoms worsen, patients can ask their GP for anti-sickness medication.