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Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Seasons and flu epidemics

09/07/2000 02:44PM

Question:

It is commonly known that cold weather does not have an impact on whether or not a person will get the flu or other viruses. If that is the case, then why do flu and cold epidemics tend to occur during the winter months, and not during the summer?

Answer:

This is generally the case since during these cold periods, much more time is spent indoors. People are much more crowded and in closer personal contact with each other and therefore more apt to spread diseases by coughing, sneezing, touching, etc.

Also, since the school season is during the cold seasons, and many of the common upper respiratory illnesses are much more prevalent in children, the infections tend to spread much more quickly through this population.

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Response by:

University of Cincinnati Thomas A. Tami, MD
Professor of Otolaryngology
Department of Otolaryngology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati
Thomas A. Tami, MD