[ELI5]:Why does the flu suddenly disappear when summer arrives?Does the heat kill the flu?
In: Biology
Dr. Peter Palese a microbiologist was interested in a 1918 article about flu pandemic, the author stated that the labs guinea pigs were infected and died. So Dr. Palese infected guinea pigs and kept them in varying temperatures (41 F, 68 F, and 86 F) and humidity (20%-80%). He found out that the virus survived and transmitted better in low humidity and temperature. A 1960s paper further mentioned that virus was able to service 23 hours at a temp of 43 F with very low humidity. At a temperature of 90 F and high humidity survival rate was diminished at even one hour into incubation.
There are also other theories about the flu being present only in winter such as the lack of activity and isolation in cold weather, and shorter days and less sunlight aka decrease in Vit-D and melatonin which the then leads to weakening of your immune system.
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