The Environment and COVID-19 Transmission: A Perspective

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12662/2317-3076jhbs.v8i1.3361.p1-6.2020

Palavras-chave:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Tropics, Temperate, Environmental Factors, Transmission

Resumo

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a severe public health threat worldwide. Despite the global spread, there is an observed aberration and skewness in the geographic/regional distribution of the disease, with a high preponderance of cases and mortality occurring in the temperate regions compared to the tropics. A plausible explanation for this discrepancy could be linked to variability in environmental factors. Hence, this review discusses succinctly the possible influences of geographic location, temperature/sunlight, relative humidity and building design on the rate of transmission of COVID-19. We postulate that elevated melatonin production in a hot climate, high temperature, adequate vitamin D synthesis from sunlight exposure, high relative humidity and efficient ventilation due to housing design confers innate immunity and adaptive advantage to COVID-19 transmission for populations in the tropics over those in the temperate regions. Hence, we recommend that control studies taking into congnizance the relationship between environment and disease be prioritized. Such studies are important for predicting viral disease spread, in particular if this leads to pandemics like in the case of COVID-19, to aid decisions in public health policies at the global level. level.      

 

 

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Biografia do Autor

Adewale Allen Sokan-Adeaga, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, NIGERIA

MRS SOKAN-ADEAGA FADESAYO HANNAH, A retired Teacher. Lives in Lagos, Nigeria.

Ayodeji Micheal Sokan-Adeaga, Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

SOKAN-ADEAGA Micheal Ayodeji, is a Microbiologist and certified Medical Practitioner. He is research fellow at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Arabia, Nigeria. He has published widely in various peer review journals.

Eniola Deborah Sokan-Adeaga, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.

SOKAN-ADEAGA Eniola Deborah is holds a B.Tech (Physiology) from College of Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria. Her areas of interest are Respiratory Physiology and Public Health Education.

Publicado

2020-07-16