What Causes Colds?

A major cause of the common cold is rhinovirus, which is primarily transmitted by touching contaminated surfaces or other people's hands and then touching your eyes and nose. According to the Visiting Nurse Associations of America® (VNAA), more than 100 types of rhinoviruses cause problems year-round, but especially in the early fall months when school is back in session and they can spread much more easily.

How Flu Viruses Spread

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick."

• The flu virus can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours.²
• During the flu season, 59% of surfaces in home can be contaminated with the flu virus.²
• 22 million school days are lost every year due to the common cold.¹
• Children have about 6-10 colds a year.¹
• In families with children in school, the number of colds per child can be as high as 12.¹
• Cold & flu viruses are a leading cause of doctor's visits and children missing school.¹
• In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds.¹
• Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu, and children frequently spread the virus to others.¹
• Women, especially those aged 20-30 years, have more colds than men.¹
• New research shows your home may be germier than you think. The study and survey come from the Hygiene Council (funded by Reckitt Benckiser, the makers of LYSOL® Brand products). Researchers visited 35 U.S. homes, swabbing for bacteria in 32 locations in each home. Out of the 32 places in the home, the top spots for bacteria are the toilet bowl, kitchen drain, kitchen sponge or counter-wiping cloth, bathtub, and kitchen sink. Read more. (Source: WebMD)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the 13 major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans and for providing essential human services, especially for those people who are least able to help themselves.