the common cold is spread either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after individuals sneeze or cough. person-to-person transmission often occurs when an individual who has a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. a healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions can subsequently become infected often after their contaminated hands make contact with their own eyes or nose. a cold virus can live on objects such as pens books telephones computer keyboards and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects.
how is the common cold spread?