Seeing ill-looking people can cause immune response, study suggests

Whether it is a person holding a tissue or a child with signs of chickenpox, the threat of an infection can be enough for us to keep a wide berth.

- Nicola Davis

Now researchers using virtual reality (VR) avatars have shown that the mere sight of a potentially contagious person is enough to mobilise our immune system too. "Our finding that immune responses can be triggered by simulated infections presented in VR is consistent with the principle of the smoke detector in biological systems," the authors said, adding that the behavioural system that helps us avoid catching diseases is "exquisitely sensitive" to cues that may suggest someone is ill.