eli5 why are people more likely to get sick if they’re out in the rain?

Question

eli5 why are people more likely to get sick if they’re out in the rain?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Rain lowers the temperature of everything.

The colder the human body, the worse it is at fighting off bacteria and viruses (pathogens). It must work harder to maintain ideal temp (37c/98.6f) and lower temp means lower blood flow (slower traffic).

The colder the air, the worse it is at holding water, another way of saying humidity is low. Pathogens thrive in low humidity. The membranes they enter the body dry out, which is like leaving the border open with no guards.

Rain drives people indoors, closer together, making those pathogens more likely to be passed amongst each other (increased exposure).