biostudies-literatureUnknown10(9)Abney SEThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a need to assess the role of fomites in viral transmission within the built environment. Assessing the role of fomites is necessary for developing intervention strategies for controlling emerging pathogens. A fomite workshop with experts was convened in November 2024 by academia, several government agencies, and public health officials to evaluate existing data and discuss how to mitigate risks. Fomite transmission is influenced by the nature of the built environment, population density and proximity, environmental factors (humidity, heat, etc.), virus survival, surface type, engineering controls (ventilation, physical barriers, etc.), and human behaviors. Based on our current data, direct contact with a contaminated surface/fomite, even for respiratomSpheree0092724https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12482177biostudies-literatureFomite workshop recommendations addressing the role of surfaces in virus transmission in the built environment.PMC12482177Bloomfield SFScott EVerhougstraete MPWhitworth JCZargar BRutala WAReynolds KAWilliams MMFurin WABoone SAIjaz MKCutts TMcKinney JPark GWGerba CPAbney SELyons AKMaillard J-YMena KDSattar SAWilson AMWeber DJfalseFomite workshop recommendations addressing the role of surfaces in virus transmission in the built environment.The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a need to assess the role of fomites in viral transmission within the built environment. Assessing the role of fomites is necessary for developing intervention strategies for controlling emerging pathogens. A fomite workshop with experts was convened in November 2024 by academia, several government agencies, and public health officials to evaluate existing data and discuss how to mitigate risks. Fomite transmission is influenced by the nature of the built environment, population density and proximity, environmental factors (humidity, heat, etc.), virus survival, surface type, engineering controls (ventilation, physical barriers, etc.), and human behaviors. Based on our current data, direct contact with a contaminated surface/fomite, even for respirato2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-03T23:29:09.003Z2026-05-03T03:11:11.955ZS-EPMC124821774083311410.1128/msphere.00927-24