It maybe the beginning of the end of the common cold. Most colds are caused by the RNA rhinovirus and researchers at the University of Leeds have announced they have cracked an unknown sequence of the virus' RNA code. The code governs viral assembly so the information should give science the ability to stop the virus from deploying, or in other words, "going viral". Their research was published in the National Academy of Science's early edition journal, but the work is still in the theoretical stages, far from the development of an actual human drug or vaccine. Researchers at Yale recently discovered that when the temperature inside the human nose drops five degrees, the immune system is unable to fight the cold virus as well as normal. This is the explanation for the frequent close connection between becoming chilled in cold weather and subsequently developing a cold. One in five people carry the rhinovirus in their nasal passages at any one time.
On another front of the never-ending battle between humans and viruses, sixteen states are now affected by the measles outbreak. Most medical observers attribute the disease spread, once thought to be practically eradicated, to a lack of vaccination in children. Prominent politicians have become involved in the debate over whether parents should be required to have their children vaccinated. The anti-vaccine movement, based in large part on fears of side effects from vaccination, has made substantial inroads in vaccine rates. Oregon, with its 'hippy-dippy' livestyles, is a hotbed of "anti-vaxxer" opinion. It has the nation's highest rate of parents refusing vaccinations for their kindergartners, currently at 7%. The state has responded with an "Exclusion Day" of February 18th. Parents must prove up-to-date immunizations for their children enrolled in school or child care facilities or they will be excluded. There are exceptions to the mandate, however.