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It's Flu Season - Why in Winter?

The New York Times ran a great article about a study that answers an age old question. Why does the flu (influenza) season always happen in the winter? We seldom see flu in Summer or even the Fall. In the tropics flu doesn't even exist.

There have been hypothesis that it was from overcrowding in schools and homes, or in the winter people are stuck inside and can pass the germs. But people are crowded in the Summer too and travel on vacations in planes and we don't see influenza.

A clever researcher, Dr. Palese from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York conducted studies on guinea pigs and found that the flu virus thrives and is passed through the air at low temperatures. At 41˚the animals passed the virus more readily and longer than at 68˚. The virus was passed at low humidity but not at all at 80% humidity.

Since you really can't do anything about the weather, the best way to prevent flu is to get a flu shot or move to the tropics. Mom was almost right when she said "Put on that coat and gloves or you'll catch your death". It is amazing that it took this long to get some scientific evidence about a virus that is so common.


I had the flu two years ago and it was nasty business. So now I make sure to get my shot -in fact I'm first in line with my sleeve rolled up.
Anonymous said…
H5N1 avian flu: Spread by drinking water into small clusters:
Human to human and contact transmission of influenza occur - but are overvalued immense. In the course of Influenza epidemics in Germany recognized clusters are rarely (9% of the cases in the season 2005).
The performance to eliminate viruses of the drinking water processing plants in Germany regularly does not meet the requirements of the WHO and the USA/USEPA. Conventional disinfection procedures are poor, because microorganisms in the water are not in suspension, but embedded in particles. Even ground water used for drinking water is not free from viruses.
In temperate climates the strong seasonal waterborne infections like norovirus, rotavirus, salmonellae, campylobacter and - differing from the usual dogma - influenza are mainly triggered by drinking water dependent on the drinking water temperature (in Germany minimum feb/mar – maximum august). There is no evidence that influenza primary is transmitted by saliva droplets. In temperate climates the strong interdependence between influenza infections and environmental temperatures can’t be explained with the primary biotic transmission by saliva droplets from human to human with temperatures of 37.5°C. There must be an abiotic vehicle like cold drinking water. There is no other appropriate abiotic vehicle. In Germany about 98% of inhabitants have a central public water supply with older and better protected water. Therefore in Germany cold water is decisive to virulence of viruses.

Dipl.-Ing. Wilfried Soddemann
Epidemiologische Analyse:
Toni Brayer, MD said…
Thanks for the information, wilfriedsoddemann. I am not sure I understood it all but it seems to support the "cold" theory, including cold waer.
Anonymous said…
are you sure this is true? because there is another theory that is more accurate
This comment has been removed by the author.
Try some elderberries in a health drink 1-2 times per day (1 tablespoon) and time you start feeling flulike symptoms.. It really works wonders!

Florida Herb House
Viagra Online said…
jjajajaja look the face of that soldier, can resist a bullet, and a little needle make him scream.
norovirus said…
Moms are always right!
Unknown said…
“Since you really can't do anything about the weather, the best way to prevent flu is to get a flu shot or move to the tropics.” - True! Although when the influenza becomes a pandemic like the infamous 2009 H1N1, even those who live in the tropics were affected. The best precaution is to get yourself a flu shot to help boost your immune system. Yevette @ US Health Works

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