Doctors say more and more people are getting sick, because of the quick change in temperature outside.

But they say, it’s not the cold weather itself that's causing people to get sick, but rather, the perfect environment, this cold weather is creating, that's causing these hard to kill virus strains to strengthen and multiply more rapidly.

For the past two weeks, Dr. Ify Ekelum, who runs this 24 hour, 7 day a week clinic in Southeast Fresno says he's been seeing an upsurge in patients, infected with either the flu or the common cold.

Dr. Ify Ekelum, 24/7 Urgent Care: "Usually peaks around January or February, surprisingly we’ve seen an early upsurge."

Doctor Ekelum says the rapid change in temperature is a major contributing factor.

The cold weather he says, allows the millions of different virus strains to strengthen and multiply, thus infecting more and more people.

People like Greg Kemplin, who's been suffering from a cold now for the past 10 days.

Greg Kemplin, suffering from a cold: "It’s just miserable, it’s just a hassle."

If this is you, doctor Ekelum says drink plenty of liquids, get plenty of rest and eat healthy.

He says, these three steps alone will help your body kick the virus out faster.

Ekelum: "it's the body that does the work, because right now, we don't have anything that can fight viruses directly and kill it."

Not Vitamin C, not Zinc, not even Echinacea will do the trick Dr. Ekelum says.

Ekelum: "It's a daily remedy that people try, people take and it helps them psychologically, but intellectually speaking, from scientific evidence, there is no proof that it does."

Doctor Ekelum says, you just need to let the virus run its course, which should take about a week, week and a half.

Wendy Grossman says at least 40 people in her office come to work everyday, sick with a cold.

She says it's surprising she hasn't come down with one, considering what surrounds her everyday.

Wendy Gossman, cold free: "A lot of coughing, a lot of sneezing, a lot of people not washing their hands after using the restroom. It's absolutely horrible."

But doctor Ekelum says if this is you, following key steps can keep you healthy.

He says along with plenty of liquids, plenty of rest and a healthy diet, washing your hands with antibacterial soap in luke-warm water for about a minute, anytime you handle public property, can keep the millions of virus strains from spreading and infecting you.

Doctor Ekelum says right now, his clinic is seeing about 25 patients a day, sick with a cold or flu.

If you haven't gotten a flu shot yet, he says now is the time, although, Ekelum says, it won't protect you from the millions of different virus strains that make up the common cold.

For Preston Phillips’ full story, click on the video link above.