As cases of the novel coronavirus now known as COVID-19 continue to rise worldwide, researchers have learned that older adults may be particularly susceptible to the respiratory illness, which can cause pneumonia and symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. "The data coming out of China continues to say that the people who are at higher risk for severe disease and death are those who are older and with underlying health conditions,” Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at a press briefing in early February. Preliminary estimates suggested that the virus, which then had sickened tens of thousands and resulted in hundreds of deaths, had a fatality rate of about 2 percent. Early findings from China, which pertained to the first 17 people to die in the outbreak, revealed that their median age was 75, and a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the median age of the first 425 people infected with the virus was 59.
Underlying conditions play a role.
This is typical of coronaviruses, a family that includes the viruses behind the SARS and ongoing MERS outbreaks as well as other respiratory viruses such as the seasonal flu , says Vineet Menachery, an immunologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch who studies the effect of coronaviruses on aging immune systems. "During the original SARS outbreak, the lethality rate for the overall number of cases was 10 percent, but that lethality rate jumped to over 50 percent in people over the age of 50,” he says. “Age and your condition in life will really drive your susceptibility. You may be in your 40s, but if you have these chronic health conditions, you're going to be more susceptible, just like you see with flu.” Menachery points to two main reasons for older adults’ increased susceptibility to coronaviruses. The first: They are more likely to suffer from underlying conditions that hinder the body's ability to cope with and recover from illness, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . The second has to do with how our immune response changes with age, the exact mechanisms of which Menachery and other researchers still are working to fully understand. His research into coronaviruses has shown that older mice, for instance, experience more inflammation early on in the course of illness, perhaps “setting the table” for lung damage that can't later be overcome. The coronavirus that became a global pandemic before mid-March, like the ones responsible for SARS and MERS, affects the part of the lungs where gas exchange — the delivery of oxygen to the bloodstream and the removal of carbon dioxide — takes place. "As you get older, your lungs are not as elastic or as resilient as when you're younger. Those kinds of things, coupled with any kind of health issue you might have, trend toward this loss of airway function and respiratory function." But this doesn't mean that turning 65 — considered the starting point of older adulthood by the CDC and other organizations — automatically puts someone in the high-risk category, Menachery points out. “Age and your condition in life will really drive your susceptibility,” he says. “You may be in your 40s, but if you have these chronic health conditions, you're going to be more susceptible, just like you see with flu.” Handwashing keeps germs away from your insides. Scientists are continuing to work to develop targeted treatments for COVID-19. In the meantime, U.S. health officials recommend that people practice preventive hygiene measures, including thorough handwashing with soap and water. Menachery also notes that the emergence of COVID-19 has overlapped with that of another potentially fatal respiratory illness, the flu. Influenza remains at elevated levels across much of the country, affecting an estimated 36 million people so far this season and resulting in at least 370,000 hospitalizations, most among those 65 and older, plus 22,000 deaths. "It's not too late to get your flu shot,” he says. “It's actually been a really bad flu year.”

No NIgeria will die of Corona Virus except those who have underlining illness. God will heal our land.

RichBoy247:
No NIgeria will die of Corona Virus except those who have underlining illness. God will heal our land.

Typical Nigerian becomes religious and turn to God instead of seeking solution to their problems

When we say old men shouldn’t be in power but relaxing at home taking care of their great grandchildren this is what we meant.

Now they are too old that their immune system needs steady boosts to fight the virus. They are already half dead by now self.

Now is the best time for doctors too to go on strike... since everyone wants to be mad let’s kuku craze together

Conner44:
When we say old men shouldn’t be in power but relaxing at home taking care of their great grandchildren this is what we meant.

Now they are too old that their immune system needs steady boosts to fight the virus. They are already half dead by now self.

Now is the best time for doctors too to go on strike... since everyone wants to be mad let’s kuku craze together

u sabi Abeg. As they no won fix naija, make we finally pray for it's total breakdown for a fresh start.

HisSexcellency:

Typical Nigerian becomes religious and turn to God instead of seeking solution to their problems

Besides religion, Corona Virus gives a very severe Fever, Nigerians have been living with Fever since time immemorial, that is why there is no time a Nigeria will do medical test that ther wont be traces of Malaria and sometimes Typhoid in every Nigerian. So the probability of dying of Fever is very very low except if the person has some underlining illnesses. The whitemen have been dying in thousands of Corona Virus because they do not have Fever in their environment before now, so Fever drugs are almost nonexistence over there.

Secondly, what can humans do without God?

with our lives in the hands of God
let the will of God in Nigeria be done

RichBoy247:
No NIgeria will die of Corona Virus except those who have underlining illness. God will heal our land.

na visit you come for Nigeria?

Lately, Lalasticlala has not ban anyone irrespective of their foul comments. Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Richdad

Is it true that the president have traveled out??

Joclebs:
Is it true that the president have traveled out??

news from children of hate can never be true

[s]

Johans1991:
news from children of hate can never be true

[/s]

RichBoy247:
No NIgeria will die of Corona Virus except those who have underlining illness. God will heal our land.

So u think say na only Abba kyari n bubu get underlying sicknesses?? A lot of Nigerians are not well oo.. U should redirect ur prayers that all d politicians that brought us into this mess,, should die..

RichBoy247:


Besides religion, Corona Virus gives a very severe Fever, Nigerians have been living with Fever since time immemorial, that is why there is no time a Nigeria will do medical test that ther wont be traces of Malaria and sometimes Typhoid in every Nigerian. So the probability of dying of Fever is very very low except if the person has some underlining illnesses. The whitemen have been dying in thousands of Corona Virus because they do not have Fever in their environment before now, so Fever drugs are almost nonexistence over there.

Secondly, what can humans do without God?

Yeah

Richdad50:


Lately, Lalasticlala has not ban anyone irrespective of their foul comments. Are you thinking what I am thinking?

Richdad

What is your thought?

edoairways:

What is your thought?

Maybe the snake master is down with Covik one nine birus!

I said it.. it came to pass.

Joclebs:
I said it.. it came to pass.

You said what ?

GamalNasser:

You said what ?

the heading .