As temperature drops, the cases of the flu rise. According to Mrs. O’Gwin-Harris, School Health Director for Frederick County, last year 5,403 children in Frederick County went to the health room due to cold symptoms.

Every time flu season starts, people ask the same question over and over. Why do we get the flu? Many first believed it has something to do with outside conditions, but now scientists believe it has to do with inside conditions as well.

In a study last year, Linsey C. Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, found that the flu virus survived best at humidity below 50 percent.

“In other words, give a virus a dry room heated to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and you’ve created the perfect conditions for it to thrive,” Marr said in “Burning Question | Why Is Flu Common in Winter?” published by The Wall Street Journal.

Dr. Marr suggests that people should set up a humidifier between 50 and 60 percent. This will help by making the air in the house less dry. Doctors also encourage people to wash their hands, stay away from anyone who is sick and get vaccinated.

Another common misconception is that the flu shot makes people sick. The shot contains the flu virus that has been killed and it can’t make people sick. On the other hand, the nasal spray does contain live viruses but it is weakened. That means it can’t get people sick either.

“I got the nose spray and the day after, I got cold symptoms. I was sneezing a lot and had a runny nose. So I looked it up and it said it doesn’t give you a cold but it gives you all the symptoms of a cold,” said sophomore Briana Pettaway. “I do not recommend getting the nose spray. Getting a shot would have been so much better.”

Some symptoms of the flu are high or prolonged fever, fast breathing or trouble breathing, cough, sore throat etc. People with symptoms should contact a doctor and make sure to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough and they should wear a medical mask if needed.

According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the week of November 4^th, 201 people tested positive for the flu. There have not been any reported deaths so far this year.