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 worms survive outside the body?
Under ideal conditions, this takes approximately four weeks. These infective larvae are able to survive in the environment for long periods of time and are particularly resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. The best environmental treatment is prevention.
Can worms live on surfaces?
The eggs then get transferred to other surfaces, such as toys, bedding or toilet seats. The eggs can also be transferred from contaminated fingers to food, liquids, clothes or other people. Pinworm eggs can survive for two to three weeks on surfaces.
Do Threadworms move outside the body?
Also, threadworm eggs can survive for up to two weeks outside the body. They fall off the skin around the anus and can fall on to bedding, clothes, etc. They can then get wafted in the air as you change clothes, bedding, etc, and become part of the dust in a home.
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