Xiao J, de Mesquita JB, Leung NHL, Adenaiye O, Tai. Viral RNA and infectious influenza virus on mobile phones of influenza patients in Hong Kong and the United States. J Infect Dis. 2021 Sep 17:jiab464
Mobile phones are among the most highly touched personal objects. As part of a broader study on the contribution of fomites to influenza transmission, between 2017-19, we swabbed mobile phones from 138 influenza patients in two locations. Influenza viral RNA detection rates were 23% (23/99) and 36% (14/39) in Hong Kong and Maryland, respectively. In Hong Kong, infectious influenza virus was recovered from 3/23 mobile phones. Mobile phone influenza contamination was positively associated with upper-respiratory viral load and negatively associated with age. Cleaning personal objects of influenza patients should be recommended and individuals should avoid sharing objects with influenza patients.
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