The CDC said on average a person gets two to three colds per year. Most of these colds are also caught in the winter and spring. With cold and flu season around its peak, it can be hard to avoid catching a virus that’s going around.

Germs are everywhere this time of year, from doorknobs to desks. If a person chooses not to wash their hands after sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, those germs and bacteria are even more common.

It’s hard to avoid touching things like doorknobs, but how long do viruses survive outside of the body?

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While recently exploring one of the United States most stunning national parks, 170 people caught a virus. More specifically, norovirus.

The National Park Service confirmed the outbreak at Yosemite National Park in Norther California. Only two cases of the virus were confirmed to be norovirus, but all 170 people showed the same symptoms.

Yosemite Park National Park Service stated, “the overwhelming majority of the reported cases are consistent with the norovirus.” Like food poisoning, the infected experienced nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and a fever.

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Some of the world’s most useful vaccines protect against more than one disease. The MMR vaccine is mostly associated with measles, but prevents mumps and rubella too. The Tdap vaccine also covers three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

Now, in trying to find a vaccine for Zika, we may also have a vaccine for dengue.

A new study from January by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) offers the details. While testing an experimental vaccine, the group found that along Zika, it also helps prevent dengue.

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Flu cases reached nearly 19 million last week across the United States, with flu related deaths spiking.

After an early start to the season in places like Louisiana and Puerto Rico, the virus is nationwide. According to the CDC, as of early February the number of infections of flu B and flu A are about equal. The hospitalization rate for flu infections is 35.5 per 100,000, which is normal at this stage of the season. The percentage of influenza and pneumonia deaths is at 7.1%, falling just below the epidemic threshold of 7.2%.

The group suffering the most from this flu season is children. An increase of pediatric deaths in recent weeks brought the total to 78 this season.

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Do you remember your first bout with the flu? Probably not, since it happened decades ago.

But, your body remembers very well, at least according to a new study from the University of Arizona. The study showed the first flu virus your body encounters as a young child indicates how well your body will protect itself against the flu in the future.

This research is important, because recent flu seasons have been more dangerous than previous seasons.

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