swine flu

[chevrolet1.8]

do i need to disinfect my van after someone has used it to move and come down with swine flu? he used the van last thursday to go to nottingham and should return with it today after taking the course of tamiflu. i can't find anything out about how long the virus will stay live on surfaces. cheers

[LazyGun]

Viruses in general do not survive for long outside of a congenial host. Swine flu is no different in this regard. It could survive on exposed surfaces for probably no more than 24-48 hours, possibly slighly longer if the van was cooled.
If you are worried, and are in doubt, give the surfaces a rubdown with an alcoholic wipe.

[spudqueen]

I was speaking to a health professional yesterday who said that it is only spread by coughs and sneezes (ie water droplets), so hard objects (like a van!) are not carriers.