Question

A commonly held idea about influenza is that it is a disease that occurs primarily in cold weather. Doctors report incidences of illness, such as influenza, to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The graph below shows data for three flu seasons. Note that this graph shows data from October, week 40, of one year to July, week 28, of the following year.

mc016-1.jpg
Which evidence supports this idea?
The graph line for 2008-09 has the highest peaks for flu.
All three graph lines show different patterns throughout the year.
The graph line for 2008-09 has a peak in week 44.
All three graph lines peak over the same few weeks of winter.

Answer 1

All three graph lines peak over the same few weeks of winter.

This shows influenza cases are highest during the winter months, supporting the idea that flu occurs primarily in cold weather.