Dirty money: Can the flu be passed on dollar bills?

[Guest guest]

Dirty money: Can the flu be passed on dollar bills?

Wealth may not be the only thing people spread when they fork over

funds.

Researchers warn that banknotes may be reservoirs for the common flu

virus.

Researchers report in the journal Applied and Environmental

Microbiology that human influenza viruses can survive on for as long

as 17 days.

But here's the good news:

just because the flu virus can survive on a banknote does not

necessarily mean touching money will put a person at risk for flu

infection.

What's more:

U.S. bills may not be as hospitable to the germs as other currency,

as microbiologist Palese of Mount Sinai School of Medicine

suggested in National Public Radio's most recent Science Friday

broadcast.

http://tinyurl.com/9897uh

Alana