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Refrigerator Rhinovirus?

Debunked: You can catch a cold by being chilled.

Symptoms of the common cold are caused by a virus infection, most commonly rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, or parainfluenza virus. These infections are transmitted from person to person by aerosol or direct contact, which is why people get more colds in winter - they are more likely to be in close contact with others in enclosed spaces.

Trials in which volunteers have been exposed to environmental cold and rhinovirus have shown that chilling makes no difference whatsoever to infection rates.

Avoiding a chill won't prevent the common cold - avoiding people will. If you don't want to become a hermit, washing your hands frequently may reduce infection rates.

References:

• http://tafkac.org/medical/colds.html