How long can the hepatitis A virus survive outside the body?
Dec 02, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Gao Jun
Introduction
Hepatitis A virus can survive outside the body for several days to months. It remains viable for weeks at room temperature in feces, water sources, or on surfaces, and survives even longer in cold conditions. Boiling at high temperatures rapidly inactivates the virus. If symptoms such as fatigue and jaundice occur after contact with potentially contaminated items, prompt medical attention is recommended. Hepatitis A virus has strong resistance.
Hepatitis A virus can survive outside the body for several days to months. At room temperature, it can remain viable for weeks in feces, water sources, or on surfaces. It survives even longer in cold environments, but can be rapidly inactivated by boiling at high temperatures. If symptoms such as fatigue or jaundice occur after contact with potentially contaminated items, prompt medical attention is recommended.
The hepatitis A virus is relatively resistant and can survive for about one month in cool, damp conditions. It remains infectious for several weeks in contaminated water or food, and can persist on surfaces at normal room temperature for 1–2 weeks—this resilience is a key reason why the virus easily spreads via the fecal-oral route.
High temperatures and dry environments shorten its survival time. The virus can be inactivated by heating at 56°C for 30 minutes, and completely killed by boiling at 100°C for 1 minute. In contrast, the virus may survive for months in frozen conditions while retaining its infectivity.
Daily precautions include maintaining food hygiene: avoid drinking untreated water and eating raw foods; regularly disinfect utensils with heat; wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water before handling food; avoid contact with items contaminated by feces; and maintain clean, dry surroundings to reduce viral proliferation.
