Someone on Reddit asked, ‘Can I get mono from drinking fountain?’

Infectious mononucleosis, or “mono”, is a contagious infectious disease. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other viruses can also cause this disease.

Mono is a disease of young people. The symptoms of mono are sore throat, inflamed glands on the neck and armpits, fever and very bad tiredness.

There is no medication or vaccine for mono. Mono should pass by itself in a week or so. However, the tiredness might stay for weeks or months.

Mono is passed via kissing or other bodily contact involving saliva.

It may also be passed via blood.
Can I get mono from the drinking fountain? Yes, you can.
Although the chances are small, to get mono from the drinking fountain, you need to get in touch with the saliva of a sick person that was left on parts of the fountain.
The virus of mononucleosis does not survive on surfaces for too long. The virus will probably stay alive while the object remains moist. Add some direct sunlight, and the survival of the mono virus is reduced to minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can mono spread through shared drinks or fountains?
Mono, or infectious mononucleosis, is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and mainly spreads through saliva. While sharing drinks, bottles, or utensils can pass the virus, catching it from a drinking fountain is very unlikely because the virus does not survive well on surfaces.

How long does mono remain contagious?
People with mono are most contagious while they have active symptoms such as sore throat and fever, usually for two to four weeks. However, the virus can stay in saliva for several months and may reactivate occasionally without causing symptoms.

How can I reduce my risk of catching mono?
Avoid sharing drinks, food, or personal items such as toothbrushes and lip balm. Wash your hands often and keep good general hygiene to lower the chance of viral spread.

Learn about other ways of getting an STD here.

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