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The worldwide surge in measles cases has forced clinicians to rethink infection-control protocols we all had hoped would be unnecessary by now. To provide an up-to-date basis for these decisions, German researchers conducted a detailed in vitro assessment of the virucidal capabilities of a range of disinfectants against measles virus.
Four of 7 mouthwashes tested (including 2 Listerine products widely available in the United States) eliminated detectable virus after a 30-second exposure.
Both ethanol- and propranol-based hand sanitizers inactivated virus after 30-second exposures at a variety of tested concentrations.
Infectious virus remained detectable on stainless steel surfaces for as long as 3 days. Four commercially available alcohol- and aldehyde-based disinfectants reduced surface virus titers to below detectable limits after exposures ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. A hydrogen peroxide–based product reduced but did not eliminate surface virus.
Sandoval Flores LD, et al. Susceptibility of measles virus to World Health Organization–recommended hand rubs, oral rinses, and surface disinfectants. Open Forum Infect Dis 2025 Nov; 12:ofaf627 10.1093/ofid/ofaf627.41180003
Comment
With the usual caveat that in vitro findings do not guarantee real-world results, these data show that standard antiseptic agents work well against measles virus (see ). The information should be useful for hospital infection-control practitioners and for smaller medical offices and clinics during a local outbreak. Even parents of vulnerable children might be interested in these data — although clinicians should not fail to point out that vaccination prevents measles, whereas these chemicals do not.