Coronavirus: Blood type A people may be more vulnerable; type O more resistant - Researchers
- People with blood type A are likely to get infected and even die from the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- This is according to new research conducted on the disease by Chinese scientists
- The study also states that people with blood type O are less likely to suffer from the symptoms of the COVID-19
- However, the scientists noted that their work was preliminary and needed further study
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New research on the Coronavirus disease has suggested that people with blood type A may be more vulnerable and more likely to die because of COVID-19 than others.
The research, after analysing over 2,000 COVID-19 patients in China's epicentre of Wuhan, found that those with type A blood showed a higher rate of infection, developed more severe symptoms, and died more than others.
On the other hand, people with O type tended to experience more mild symptoms from the disease and suffered less number of deaths.
Comparing the blood types of these patients to those of over 3,600 unaffected people, the study found out that while 31.16 per cent of regular residents were blood type A, 37.75 per cent of surveyed coronavirus patients were of the same blood type.
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Of the same sample of coronavirus cases at the hospital, 25.8 per cent had type O blood, compared to 33.84 per cent in the general population.
The study also examined 206 patients who died from the virus, finding 85 victims, or 41.26 per cent, had Type A blood. Just 52 of the deaths, or about a quarter, had Type O.
“People of blood group A might need particularly strengthened personal protection to reduce the chance of infection.
“Sars-CoV-2-infected patients with blood group A might need to receive more vigilant surveillance and aggressive treatment.”
"...blood group O had a significantly lower risk for the infectious disease compared with non-O blood groups,” the research published on Medrxiv.org stated.
The researchers led by Wang-Xinghuan of the Center for Evidence-Based and Translational Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, however, described their findings as “preliminary" and have recommended further studies.
Meanwhile, Ghana has confirmed its seventh Coronavirus case on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
The new victim, a 35-year-old male, is said to have travelled into the country from France some days ago.
He has been put in isolation while health and other professionals start to trace people he might have contacted upon his arrival in Ghana.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
