Cold-flu interactions

In a study of 44,230 cases of respiratory illness tested for 11 respiratory viruses over 9 years, researchers examined the statistical evidence for interactions between respiratory viruses and found that competition with seasonal flu may explain why common cold infections decrease in winter, a finding that can help improve forecasting and aid understanding of circulation trends and infection risks.

Article #19-11083: “Virus-virus interactions impact the population dynamics of influenza and the common cold,” by Sema Nickbakhsh et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pablo R. Murcia, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre For Virus Research, UNITED KINGDOM; e-mail:

[email protected]

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