It’s that time of the year, when you see someone blowing their nose, and think, “Oh no, I hope I don’t catch that.”  Or maybe you see someone cough, and somehow you IMMEDIATELY start to feel a little sick yourself.

That’s not necessarily a mental thing, it could be an actual biological response.

According to new research, just seeing someone who’s sick can trigger a protective response in a healthy person’s body.  It could be the body’s way of preparing to fight off potential threats.

In studies, animals who interacted with sick people activated their immune systems, and even changed the way they produce eggs . . . as if their bodies were trying to protect them before they even get sick.

Researchers hope that they can learn more about these protective responses, and find out if they can help in guarding us against infections.