The Last Word on Colds

Is it better to give than to receive? When you’re talking about a cold virus (one of 200 cold viruses that routinely enjoy the hospitality of our bodies) both transactions have their problems. So it’s nice to know how long a virus infected person is contagious. This down and dirty piece in the New York Times reports that in most cases, it’s longer than you think. The Times tell us that most people who catch a cold become contagious about a day before signs appear and can continue spreading the illness for up to three days after symptoms subside.