[Taxacom] possible covariates for corona virus virulence

[Timothy Dickinson]

I have been struck by mention in BBC articles that the first Chinese 
corona virus victim in Wuhan was a heavy smoker, among other things. 
more recently 
(https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/opinion/letters/wuhan-coronavirus.html), 
a letter in response to a NYT article reads, in part, "Thus far, it 
appears that the virus produces a severe infection primarily in those 
with weakened lungs and immune systems, such as the elderly, diabetics 
and smokers. One important consideration is that the citizens of Wuhan 
are exposed to unusually high levels of PM 2.5, typically 20 times the 
current 'acceptable' limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency. 
The virus is likely to be less lethal in less polluted areas of the 
world... Peter Muennig, New York
The writer is a professor of health policy and management at Mailman 
School of Public Health, Columbia University."

Anecdotally, it's been my impression that rates of tobacco smoking are 
high in China, as is air pollution. These factors might be as important, 
or more so, than ethnicity.

---tad.

  
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<Tim Dickinson
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<ROM Green Plant Herbarium (TRT)
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