Yet.

Their tales, I mean.  Because, here’s a question my sister raised, and I think it’s a good one.

As we continue to navigate what has become a really bad flu season (not for me, touch wood), I am wondering why the flu even has a season?

Doesn’t it seem really odd to you that we tend to have flu epidemics in the winter?  Because we (my sister and I) have always thought that the reason hospitals are so cold is to inhibit the growth and spread of germs.  So, either I am wrong about why I try to remember to bring a sweater when I have to visit someone in a hospital, or there is something about the cold that lowers our resistance and/or strengthens the flu.

Well, it turns out that scientists have been asking this very question!

Because, of course, once I start to wonder about something, I can’t just let it go.

Perhaps, that is not entirely accurate.  I can let it go just fine—especially as I’m likely to forget it before any research can be done—unless I don’t have much else going on at the point the question is raised, unless it really does interest me, and unless my sister says, “Hey!  It’s a thing for Wondering Wednesday.”  (I do like it when other people come up with ideas for blog posts.  If nothing else, it proves someone is reading!)

Since I had time and since it struck me as a good thing for a Wondering Wednesday post and since I really do wonder about it…here we are.

Turning to my trusty Google, I discovered a few possibilities:

One, the air is dryer in the winter.  So, it dries out the mucous membranes of our respiratory system which, in theory, allows the little flu bugs easier access.

Two, the flu virus—the actual molecules or whatever—have a protective coating in the cold which is missing in higher temperatures and which allows them to live longer outside a host.

Neither of these theories have been proven conclusively, but it seems the scientists are on it.  I have every confidence they’ll figure it out.

In the meantime, and since they haven’t yet, I think I’ll continue to wear a hat in the cold weather, because I always get sick when I don’t!