Old wives tale, once more, turns out to be true

Have you had this debate? Does cold weather cause people to catch colds more easily or not? Well here's an interesting article that says there is 'scientific' proof that flu infections do in fact spread more during cold winter months:

"Researchers in New York believe they have solved one of the great mysteries of the flu: Why does the infection spread primarily in the winter months? The answer, they say, has to do with the virus itself. It is more stable and stays in the air longer when air is cold and dry, the exact conditions for much of the flu season." (from New York Times)

I always love it when long-standing 'facts' and 'beliefs' get overturned. ("Coffee is good for you, no, coffee is bad for you, no, wait, it's actually good for you.")

However in fairness:

  • The article is talking about flu ("Influenza") not the common cold

  • The main part of the old wives tale is that you should bundle up in cold weather to avoid getting sick - which is not corroborated by the article

Read the article, it's interesting.