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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1967 January; 15(1): 35-42
Copyright © 1967 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Influence of Relative Humidity on the Survival of Some Airborne Viruses

National Animal Disease Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa

ABSTRACT

A system for studying the effects of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on biological aerosols, utilizing a modified toroid for a static aerosol chamber, is described. Studies were conducted at 23 C and at three RH levels (10, 35, and 90%) with four viruses (Newcastle disease virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and Escherichia coli B T3 bacteriophage). Virus loss on aerosol generation was consistently lower at 90% than at 10 or 35% RH. When stored at 23 C, Newcastle disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus survived best at 10% RH. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and E. coli B T3 bacteriophage survived storage at 23 C best at 90% RH.