In feces, rotaviruses are resistant to inactivation
at 60°C (140°F) for 30 minutes and at 18–20°C (64–
68°F) for at least 7–9 months (Woode 1978). Rotaviruses
in organic material can be inactivated by 2% acid
glutaraldehyde, 70% ethanol, 3.7% formaldehyde, 10%
povidone-iodine, 67% chloramine T, and 0.5% triclosan
(Sattar et al. 1983). Disinfectants that can inactivate
rotaviruses include phenols, formalin, chlorine,
and beta-propiolactone. Disinfectant spray containing
ethanol (0.1% o-phenylphenol and 79% ethanol), bleach
(6% sodium hypochlorite diluted to give 800 ppm free
chlorine) and phenol-based products (14.7% phenol
diluted 1:256 in tap water) effectively reduced the rotavirus
titer by 95–99% after 10 minutes (Sattar et al.
1994). Ethanol (95%) acts as perhaps the most effective
disinfectant by removing the outer capsid of rotavirus
(Estes et al. 2001).