The highest recorded temperature for extreme thermophiles, growing at the very edge of undersea vents is about 400oC. The commonly cited lowest temperature for lava is 700oC. Given a fudge factor on both of these, it is conceivable that there could be an overlap. I doubt if such an event would occur: the underseas vents last for a long time and bacteria have had ample opportunity to adapt/evolve. Molten lava is very short lived, so there would be no time or reason for the bacteria to use it as a habitat.

So, to claim that 'bacteria can live in lava', may be better described as 'could possibly survive', though I still have my doubts.

Over to you Jon

No. You'd have a lot more to worry about. And flu is caused by a virus.

Seriously though, bacterial spores can be very hardy but surviving in molten lava seems a bit far-fetched. I'm sure they mean spores not active bacteria.

Incidentally, the organisms that tend to be well-known for surviving in extremes - the so-called extremophiles - are mainly archaebacteria, none of which causes illness in humans.

No that advert is just to scare you like you said. As far as we are aware bacteria can not survive in lava. But as for virus' there are virus' that can live in lava, but they dont as there is no food down there to survive on.