I’m the director of Clinical Virology and Vice Chair of Practice in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. I’m the past-President of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology and specialize in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 and influenza.
You’ve probably heard it before — “Don’t go out in the cold, you’ll catch pneumonia!” For centuries, we’ve known that certain infections, such as influenza, typically peak during the winter months in temperate climates.
When a person with influenza or Covid-19 coughs or sneezes, the virus spreads within microscopic respiratory droplets. Under ideal conditions — i.e., a relative humidity of 40-50% — those droplets are large enough that they will typically fall to the floor or a surrounding surface within 4 to 6 feet. This is why social distancing efforts can be highly effective in reducing the rate of transmission of respiratory infections. But when the humidity level falls — i.e.
Roche Secures Promising Bowel Disease Therapy—Which Could Help Treat Crohn’s—In $7.1 Billion Telavant Deal Second, there is typically a thin layer of viscous fluid that lines the respiratory tract and serves as a natural, physical barrier for the respiratory epithelium. Think of it like a stream running over a river bed . When the stream is flowing as it should, foreign objects like small branches or pebbles can’t settle on and cause damage to the river bed. Similarly, the layer of viscous fluid lining the epithelial cells helps to prevent infection and damage to those cells.
So as we head into the winter months, consider taking a few steps to reduce the odds of being infected with a respiratory virus. First, keep indoor environments appropriately humidified and well-ventilated. Second, try to get exposure to sunlight each day. Third, wear a mask if indoors in a public setting. And finally, get vaccinated against influenza, RSV , and Covid-19.
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