Can Ebola be contacted through contaminated MONEY

Fears that Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) could be transmitted by exchange of paper currencies may not be completely wrong, as scientists have found that paper currency and coins may be a public health risk, especially when associated with the simultaneous handling of food.

Although it has not been established that Ebola virus could be transmitted through handling of bank notes, researchers have said it could help in the spread of infections within the hospital.

The researchers, including those from Université de la Méditerranée, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, France, Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia particularly noted that banknotes recovered from hospitals may be highly contaminated by infectious bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, while Salmonella species, Escherichia coli (which cause gastro enteric disorders) are commonly isolated from banknotes from food outlets.

Laboratory simulations from the team has also revealed that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can easily survive on coins, whwhile E. coli, Salmonella species and viruses, including human influenza virus, Norovirus, Rhinovirus, hepatitis A virus, and Rotavirus, can be transmitted through hand contact.