More than our fair share of rain this Winter. Does it hinder the virus!

[Kevin53]

Respiratory infections are transferred more readily in the winter time for two reasons,” he said. “The first is we spend more time in enclosed spaces, close to each other, so that we have more prolonged face-to-face contact.”

The second reason has to do with humidity.

“When we transmit viruses from one person to another, we’re usually 3 feet [from] each other — the so called ‘breathing zone,'” Schaffner explained. “When we’re in a time of low humidity such as we have in the winter time, it appears that that little bit of moisture that surrounds the virus evaporates, so the virus remains in the air for a sufficiently prolonged time so that the person who is sufficiently close to me can breathe it in.”

You may have been told that you can catch a cold by getting caught in the rain and staying in wet clothes.

Experts say this is a myth.

“All our parents used to say that, perhaps to keep us indoors in bad weather,” Stephen Morse, PhD, a professor of epidemiology and an infectious disease expert at Columbia University in New York, told Healthline.

[PMRpro]

There is study evidence to back the other claim that if your feet are cold you will get a cold. If your feet are cold, all your extremities are likely to be cold - and that includes your nose. If your nose is cold it is less able to carry out one of its functions which is to filter nasties from the air you breathe in so they are less likely to reach the lungs.

[happytulip]

I'm not sure of the science behind it but when I was still working in my medical career we'd say things like "this is a croup year." It would be wet and raining but the air temperature would be quite mild. We would need a good sharp frost to kill off all of the bugs. I'm no virology expert but bugs love wet and warm/mild environments so I thought that a big helping of snow might do the trick. But as the virus is spreading in Ski resorts and areas with snow and cold temperatures my hypothesis goes out of the window!

But if we did have snow I'll be sure to post a picture of a snowman!

[overnighthearingloss]

vitamin d in its natural form ie sunlight seems to have an effect in killing viruses.

Many people now supplement with vitamin d through the winter months and it is said to have a protective effect.

Personally I can deal with a degree of dry cold provided I am in a warm environment or well wrapped but cold damp conditions are bad news for me.

I agree with pmpro I have heard that as well and it certainly seems true in my case.

its said that when a body develops a fever its because its natures way of weakening a virus or infection. By that same token Dr John Campbell advises plenty of hot fluids.

I tend to make use of ginger or chilli as well to warm the insides.