There are many things that you should know about the cold and flu season this year. The cold and flu is also known as the common cold, and can spread easily through a sneeze or just by touching a door knob. The common cold can also be spread by skin-to-skin contact, saliva, touching something that someone else touched,  or by coughs and sneezes.The virus can spread easily, but thankfully is treatable. Depending on the severity, it can be short or long-term, all based on how you treat it. The common cold can be caused by many different types of viruses. Many symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion. The best time to get your flu shots to prevent the common cold/ influenza is as early as possible. The time is never too early to receive your vaccination, especially for students here at North Providence High School. Doctors strongly recommend students who are exposed to these types of germs should get their flu shot to prevent the flu soon.