Sight of someone potentially infectious causes immune response, research suggests

Scientists use VR headsets to see how participants react to faces of people showing signs of viral infections

Whether it's the person brandishing a tissue on the train or the child with the telltale signs of chickenpox, the threat of an infection can be enough for us to beat a retreat.

Now researchers using virtual reality avatars have shown that the mere sight of a potentially contagious person is enough to mobilise our immune system too.