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. 2011:2011:734690.
doi: 10.1155/2011/734690. Epub 2011 Oct 1.

The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS Coronavirus

K H Chan  1 , J S Malik Peiris, S Y Lam, L L M Poon, K Y Yuen, W H Seto
Affiliations

The Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on the Viability of the SARS Coronavirus

K H Chan et al. Adv Virol. 2011.

Abstract

The main route of transmission of SARS CoV infection is presumed to be respiratory droplets. However the virus is also detectable in other body fluids and excreta. The stability of the virus at different temperatures and relative humidity on smooth surfaces were studied. The dried virus on smooth surfaces retained its viability for over 5 days at temperatures of 22-25°C and relative humidity of 40-50%, that is, typical air-conditioned environments. However, virus viability was rapidly lost (>3 log(10)) at higher temperatures and higher relative humidity (e.g., 38°C, and relative humidity of >95%). The better stability of SARS coronavirus at low temperature and low humidity environment may facilitate its transmission in community in subtropical area (such as Hong Kong) during the spring and in air-conditioned environments. It may also explain why some Asian countries in tropical area (such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand) with high temperature and high relative humidity environment did not have major community outbreaks of SARS.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Residual virus infectivity at 22–25°C with relative humidity 40–50% (starting titre 105/10 μL) and at 33°C or 38°C with relative humidity >95%.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Infectivity of SARS Coronavirus (105/10 μL) to different temperatures at (a) >95% relative humidity, (b) >80–89%.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Infectivity of SARS Coronavirus (starting titre 105/10 μL) at different relative humidity at (a) 38°C, (b) 33°C, and (c) 28°C.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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