The expert spoke about the hidden sources of viruses in everyday life

Even with minimal contact with people, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of contracting viral infections. This was announced to Izvestia on March 28 by the medical director of PROMOMED, Candidate of Biological Sciences Victoria Shcherbakova.

"One of the reasons is the long incubation period of a number of viruses: a person can become infected even before they limit contact. In addition, there is still a risk of indirect contamination through surfaces. Viral particles can survive on plastic and metal for up to several days, and on cardboard for up to 24 hours," the expert said.

According to her, the sources of infection can be familiar objects, including packages from stores and smartphones. The phone often acts as a carrier: it collects germs outside the home and then comes into contact with the owner's face.

Asymptomatic carriers of the virus pose an additional danger. Shcherbakova said that a person may not have signs of illness, but at the same time spread the infection. In closed rooms, viral particles can also remain in the air for up to 15-30 minutes, for example, in elevators or corridors of apartment buildings.

A separate risk factor is dry indoor air during the heating period. Drying out of the nasal mucosa reduces the body's natural protective barrier, which facilitates the penetration of viruses.

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The expert stressed that the body's resistance to infections largely depends on lifestyle. The immune system is affected by sleep quality, stress levels, nutrition, and physical activity. The state of the intestinal microflora, where a significant part of the immune cells are concentrated, also plays an important role.

To maintain the immune system, it is recommended to observe a sleep regime of at least 7-9 hours, adhere to a balanced diet, regularly engage in moderate physical activity and ventilate the premises. It is also important to follow basic hygiene rules.

Shcherbakova noted that frequent colds can signal problems with the immune system. In adults, acute respiratory viral infections more than 4-5 times a year are often associated with stress, lack of sleep or chronic diseases. In children, frequent infections are acceptable during the formation of the immune system, but in case of severe course or lack of recovery between diseases, specialist advice is required.

The expert added that the key indicator of health is not so much the frequency of diseases as the body's ability to recover quickly from them.

On March 18, Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease specialist at Invitro, PhD, told Izvestia that with the onset of the summer season, the risk of infectious diseases associated with insect bites, contaminated water and soil, and hygiene violations increases. One of the main risks in spring and summer remains ticks, whose activity begins already at temperatures above +6 degrees. The bites of these insects can lead to infection with borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis.

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