The length of this year's flu season could depend on where you live

Flu season is coming — and how long it lasts might vary depending on where you live, a new study suggests. The study, published in Science, suggests that flu transmission might last for longer stretches in large cities. “If there’s lots of people and transportation patterns frequently bring them together, it helps the virus find new hosts,” study author Benjamin Dalziel of Oregon State University in Corvallis tells STAT. Smaller cities, on the other hand, might experience a shorter but more explosive season. That suggests a one-size-fits-all approach won’t cut it — small cities might need to focus on grappling with a lot of sick people over a short time, while big cities might focus on stemming flu’s spread.