A friend tells you that because he has just recovered from a cold, he now cannot get the flu. Is your friend right? Explain your answer.
No, your friend is not right. Recovering from a cold does not make a person immune to the flu. While both the cold and flu are respiratory illnesses caused by viruses, they are caused by different types of viruses. The common cold is usually caused by rhinoviruses, while the flu is caused by influenza viruses.
When a person recovers from a cold, their immune system develops specific antibodies to fight off the particular rhinovirus that caused the cold. These antibodies provide protection against that specific virus, making it less likely for them to get infected by the same virus again. However, these antibodies do not provide any protection against other types of viruses, such as the influenza virus.
Therefore, even if someone has recently recovered from a cold, they can still get infected with the flu if they come into contact with the influenza virus. It's important for individuals to take preventative measures, like getting a flu vaccine and practicing good hygiene, to reduce their risk of contracting the flu, regardless of whether they have recently recovered from a different illness.