A groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal PNAS reveals that when the influenza virus infects your body, you're far less likely to also catch a cold from rhinovirus—and vice versa.
This unexpected finding comes from nine years of research by University of Glasgow scientists, who analyzed data from 44,230 patients with respiratory illnesses. Testing for 11 common respiratory viruses, including those causing colds and flu, they found that 35% of patients had a single virus, while only 8% were infected with two or more.
"One of the most surprising results is the drop in rhinovirus infections—the common cold culprit—during peak flu season," says Dr. Sema Nickbakhsh, lead author of the study.
"We believe respiratory viruses compete for the same cells in the body, much like lions and hyenas vie for prey," adds co-author Dr. Pablo Murcia.
Until a cure eliminates these illnesses, we recommend washing your hands regularly with soap and water to minimize infection risk.
