It feels like nearly everyone is sniffing, coughing, or sneezing at the moment, and the data backs it up. Cases of Covid are rising, the flu is making a comeback, and the common cold is doing the rounds.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, rhinovirus—what most of us call the common cold—has been on the rise in recent weeks, and Covid cases are being driven by two new variants, although now for most people, infections are relatively mild. Meanwhile, flu cases have increased over the past week among 15 to 25-year-olds.
According to Prof Jonathan Ball at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, there are several reasons why now is the perfect breeding ground for respiratory infections to spread.
One is that children have just returned to school, so they are sharing lots of fresh germs with people they may not have seen in weeks. The same can be said for many adults who have returned to work after taking time off for the summer break.
Thirdly, many people are spending more time indoors where there’s less ventilation because the weather is turning cooler. These three factors alone create a breeding ground for respiratory viruses.
All of which though, he explained to the BBC, are typical at this time of year. “This is normal, it’s autumn after all,” said Prof Ball. He said a “big mixing pot of viruses” is beginning to circulate, and simply, “immunity has waned and people are getting ill.”
More than 100 different viruses cause respiratory tract infections and some bacterial infections. However, people react differently to them, and Prof Ball admitted it is not exactly clear why.
“Of course, age and fitness have a lot to do with it, but sometimes it is just your individual genetics or how tired and rundown you may be, or when you were last exposed to that particular virus,” he added.
Even though it may seem like everybody is ill, Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the current illness levels are not particularly high.
He confirmed flu and COVID-19 levels are “starting to slowly increase”, which is to be expected at this time of year, but urged eligible people to come forward for their winter vaccines.
If you do get sick, UKHSA recommends protecting others by washing your hands regularly, especially after coughing or sneezing, staying at home if you can and considering wearing a mask if you must go into public places.
Prof Ball added that getting infected isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because it can build up natural immunity for when you get older, so you may not be as severely impacted at a more vulnerable age. However, he said precautions should be taken to try to protect vulnerable people.