Tapeworms can live outside for months, waiting for a host to come along. You're most at risk if you work around livestock or travel to a country where hygiene is poor. You can also be infected if you eat or drink something that contains tapeworm eggs or larvae, like raw or undercooked beef or pork.
How long do tapeworms survive on surfaces?
The eggs can survive for months on almost any surface, including grass, carpets, bathroom floors, and bedsheets. If a live tapeworm leaves the body, it can survive for around three weeks without a host.
Can tapeworms survive on their own?
A tapeworm cannot live freely on its own. It survives within the gut of animals, including humans. Tapeworm eggs normally enter the human host from animals via food, especially raw or undercooked meat.
How long do tapeworm eggs live on surfaces?
The eggs must remain viable in the environment until their intermediary hosts, larval fleas, eat them. While most tapeworm eggs live several months while waiting for intermediate hosts, scientists have discovered that some tapeworm eggs can last up to eight months.
Can tapeworm segments live outside the body?
The adult worm is generally not seen, but the white segments that break away from the tapeworm and pass outside the body rarely fail to get an owner's attention! Occasionally, a tapeworm will release its attachment in the intestines and move into the stomach.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
Do tapeworms eventually leave?Can a tapeworm die on its own?
