Touching Contaminated Surfaces
You may have seen headlines recently claiming that one can catch warts from contaminated surfaces. But is this true? The answer is yes, but the risk is relatively low. A study revealed that HPV could survive on dry surfaces for up to 7 days. However, the virus does not appear to be highly contagious. Very few people who came into contact with contaminated surfaces developed warts on the face.
If someone you know has warts, it is important to avoid direct contact and disinfect any surfaces that may be contaminated. If left untreated, warts will eventually go away, but they can also spread to other parts of the body or people.
Experts recommend avoiding or touching someone else’s face warts to avoid catching or spreading warts.. Individuals with existing face warts must avoid picking at their own warts. Ideally, a face wart should be covered with a bandage. Proper handwashing after touching a face wart will also reduce transmission. Lastly, it is recommended to disinfect surfaces that are highly likely to be contaminated by the HPV virus.
