![]() Palese tried infecting a few guinea pigs with influenza, and sure enough, the guinea pigs got sick. Peter Palese found a peculiar comment in an old paper published after the 1918 flu pandemic: the author of the 1919 paper stated that upon the arrival of the flu virus to Camp Cody in New Mexico, the guinea pigs in the lab began to get sick and die (4). Around 2007, however, a researcher named Dr. The Flu Likes Cold, Dry Weatherįor many years, it was impossible to test these hypotheses, since most lab animals do not catch the flu like humans do, and using humans as test subjects for this sort of thing is generally frowned upon. This compromises our immune systems, which in turn decreases ability to fight the virus (3).ģ) The influenza virus may survive better in colder, drier climates, and therefore be able to infect more people (3). Here are the most popular theories about why the flu strikes in winter:ġ) During the winter, people spend more time indoors with the windows sealed, so they are more likely to breathe the same air as someone who has the flu and thus contract the virus (3).Ģ) Days are shorter during the winter, and lack of sunlight leads to low levels of vitamin D and melatonin, both of which require sunlight for their generation. Rather, they attest that the lack of sunlight or the different lifestyles people lead in winter months are the primary contributing factors. In fact, some people have argued that it is not cold temperatures that make the flu more common in the winter. However, the influenza virus is necessary to have the flu, so cold temperatures can only be a contributing factor. In fact, even its name, “influenza” may be a reference to its original Italian name, influenza di freddo, meaning “influence of the cold” (4).Ī common misconception is that the flu is caused by cold temperatures. In other words, wherever there is winter, there is flu (3). In the southern hemisphere, however, where winter comes during our summer months, the flu season falls between June and September. The season generally reaches its peak in February and ends in March (2). ![]() can begin as early as October, but usually does not get into full swing until December. The flu is most serious for the elderly, the very young, or people who have a weakened immune system (1). Around 200,000 people in the United States are hospitalized each year because of the flu, and of these people, about 36,000 die. Influenza is typically spread via the coughs and sneezes of an infected person (1). Adults are able to spread the virus one day prior to the appearance of symptoms and up to seven days after symptoms begin. However, flu symptoms also include fever, cold sweats, aches throughout the body, headache, exhaustion, and even some gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea (1). The flu is often confused with another virus, the common cold, because of the similarity in symptoms, which can include a cough, sore throat, and stuffy nose. ![]() A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that invades the cells of your body and makes you sick. The flu, also called influenza, is a viral respiratory illness. In order to discuss why we have a flu season, we must first understand what the flu is. You probably got your fair share of disdainful looks too, if you answered “No.” But why are we worried about getting the flu shot now and not in May? Why is there a flu season at all? After all, what does a virus living in a host who provides a dependable, cozy incubation chamber of 98☏, care whether it is freezing and snowy outside or warm and sunny? This question has bothered people for a long time, but only recently have we begun to understand the answer. “Did you get your flu shot?” If your friends are anything like mine, you heard this question at least a dozen times before Thanksgiving.
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