Scientists reveal why colds are more common in winter
A team of experts have uncovered the reason why colds and flu are more common during the winter.
Scientists have discovered why colds and flu spike during winter months.
The experts suggest that a previously unidentified immune response inside the nose that fights off viruses responsible for infections is suppressed by colder temperatures.
The study was led by scientists at Mass Eye and Ear hospital and Northeastern University in the US city of Boston.
Study author Dr. Benjamin Bleier said: "There's never been a convincing reason why you have this very clear increase in viral infectivity in the cold months.
"Conventionally, it was thought that cold and flu season occurred in cooler months because people are stuck indoors more where airborne viruses could spread more easily.
"Our study however points to a biological root cause for the seasonal variation in upper respiratory viral infections we see each year, most recently demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic."
