Effect of temperature and relative humidity on survival of airborne Columbia SK group viruses.

Three strains of the Columbia SK (Col-SK) group of viruses [Mengo, Maus Elberfeld (ME), and Col-SK viruses] have been studied in the airborne state. All three strains were found to give identical aerosol decay patterns at 16 or 26 C, when held at the same relative humidity (RH). During the first 5 min of aerosol storage time at 16 C, virus inactivation was RH-dependent, with survival maximal at either high (greater than 80%) or low (less than 5%) RH. After 5 min at 16 C, further inactivation, regardless of RH, was insignificant. At 26 C, the effect on survival of RH between 40 and 60% was even more pronounced than at 16 C, and continued after 5 min through 6 hr. Results of this study indicated that the inactivation of airborne Col-SK group viruses was similar to that of other ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses, particularly poliovirus. Since members of the Col-SK group are picornaviruses, they may well serve as an aerosol model representative of small, ether-resistant, single-stranded RNA viruses.