Fall sniffles and coughs signify cold viruses are circulating again, health experts say
Health experts warn that the return of cooler fall weather and children returning to school are driving up circulation of cold viruses. Public health officials emphasize that individuals are infectious before showing symptoms, and upcoming regional vaccination rollouts aim to protect high-risk populations.
Why it matters
Understanding seasonal virus transmission helps individuals protect vulnerable populations and manage healthcare system pressures during the autumn and winter months.
"This is the calm before the storm," Dr. Peter Lin, medical columnist for CBC Radio, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's Craig Norris on The Morning Edition .
"The kids start mingling at school and the virus exchange program has now begun."
Children can be in close proximity to one another inside their classroom which makes it easy for these viruses to spread, he said. Coughing, sneezing and breathing near one another is one of the main ways a virus can spread.
"Viruses can't move on their own, they don't fly, they don't crawl because they know that we will move them around for them. So I breathe out the virus and you suck them in. So we are the Uber delivery service for them," Lin said.
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