GR translation: creeping on him like the cold

[Mike Jing]

P143.1-6   “Ass. Superstitious ass.” Wandering, empty-headed . . .
these episodes are coming more often now. His decline, creeping on him
like the cold. Pumm, Easterling, Dromond, Lamplighter, Spectro . . .
what should he’ve done then, gone down to Psi Section, asked Eventyr
to get up a séance, try to get on to one of them at least . . .
perhaps . . . yes . . . What holds him back?

Here "the cold" means the coldness of winter, and not the common cold, right?