Virus enigma: Experts ask why Africa seems to have few cases.

[2greys]

The coronavirus is spreading fast beyond its China birthplace but sub-Saharan Africa, one of the world’s most vulnerable regions, has so far been almost spared — and experts want to know why.

capitalfm.co.ke/news/2020/0...

[2greys]

I would hazard a guess, that if this trend continues, it might be down to genetics.

Africa is the source of all modern humans, but they do not have the genes from interbreeding, eons ago, with archaic humans more precisely from Neanderthals and Denisovans, outside of Africa.

Genes inherited from these archaic humans have, in the past, been credited with giving us an enhanced immune system. It is just possible that in the case of Covid-19 it has had the reverse effect. Thus African people are not affected, by not having these genes.

[2greys]

There are a lot of Chinese there. China is investing very heavily in Africa. The real test of that theory will happen in South Africa where there is a large population of European descent present.

[2greys]

I will also add, that "the first people" in the Americas (both North and South) also have some Denisovan genes, as do Polynesians.

In the early days of the spread of humans out of Africa, the world was a much different place than today. The geography was totally different and sea levels were also 400 feet lower. All of which helped with humans successfully colonising the world. It was a one way traffic of humans all those years ago , out of Africa not in, hence they do not have Neanderthal/Denisovan genes, who evolved outside of Africa. The Aboriginal people of Australia have the greatest percentage of Denisovan genes on the planet.

The birth of mankind is a fascinating subject, one that I have been interested in for many years.

Of course I could be totally barking up the wrong tree. I am an engineer not a geneticist or historian.

[teenieleek in reply to 2greys]

Really interesting. I have Dupuytren’s disease, hasn’t caused me much problem so far, others require surgery but apparently only those of Viking descent can be afflicted. Predictably, my nearest and dearest were intent on buying me a helmet with horns.

[2greys in reply to teenieleek]

You highlight the theory of genetics playing a part with being susceptible to health problems.

Perhaps you should change your name to Lagertha, a Viking shieldmaiden, a warrior

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagertha

[teenieleek in reply to 2greys]

If I knew how I’d change from teenieleek to Lagertha but isn’t there a lizard with a similar name? I definitely don’t want to be reptilian!

[2greys in reply to teenieleek]

Only the name given to a crocodile monitor lizard, on this YouTube link.

youtu.be/QD-O1X3zHvI(Not working as expected?)

[teenieleek in reply to 2greys]

I’ve just remembered, lagarta is Spanish for lizard, that’s where I’m getting this.

[2greys in reply to teenieleek]

You would be in the company of Royalty, according to David Icke the royal family are lizard people

express.co.uk/news/weird/76...

[knitter]

Climate , I wonder.

Does the virus spread more easily in cold weather?

I remember when I lived for a while in central Africa a cold or flu was rare.

( Just watch out for mosquitos , tsetse flies and snakes, though )

[2greys in reply to knitter]

Thailand has infected people. I would class it as an equatorial country, the equator is only 1000 miles from Bangkok.

[Jaybird19]

2 greys On news tonight showed south american west coast ,chile etc to be clear of covid as well. Lots of welsh immigrants in the eastern side of continent. Does this fit in with your theory ? Have just read youtr post . Who are denisovans and where do they come from.and go to? You say the polynesiians and south american native people had those genes.

I had thought it was travel. Not thought of gene s . Now i am lost to know what to think.

[2greys]

It is just a theory, Denisovans were archaic humans that existed just before Neanderthals, both of them were genetically close to each other and to modern humans (homo sapiens) to interbreed with each other. We have a small percentage of their genes in our make up. Except Africans. Northeast Asians had a greater amount of Denisovan genes and it was these people who were also the first people to colonise the Americas. So there is at least 3 basic permutations of genes to varying degrees. But we are now all homosapiens, the only breed of humans left alive, this all happened at least 200,000 years ago.

[twinkleyt]

I lived in northern Germany from 1984-1998 and had a cold in the nose only twice but no cough . The winter temps of -18-20 I believe killed our UK type of virus, as each time I visited UK within a week I went down with cold and horrendous chesty cough.

[2greys]

One case now reported in Nigeria, an Italian who returned from Milan earlier this week.

[2greys]

Two South Africans contaminated by coronavirus in Japan, no news on ethnicities yet.

[blueskies--2]

Thank you very interesting 2greys

[2greys]

Well it looks like my theory has been blown away:

withinnigeria.com/2020/02/2...

[golden-retriever]

Temperature. Viruses don’t like a warmer climate, which is one of the reasons that your body raises its temperature when infected by a virus. And when this part of the world warms up, they expect incidences the Coronavirus to dramatically decline.

news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-...

[2greys in reply to golden-retriever]

Singapore is currently 35 Deg. C and the infection is there, so unlikely.

[golden-retriever in reply to 2greys]

I’m afraid temperature makes a big difference. news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-...

[2greys in reply to golden-retriever]

Not always. Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, are all infected, that explanation does not hold for Covid 19 and they are hotter than the UK gets so that will not save us.

[Perrythomas]

Many isolated communities, not a huge infrastructure so travel is not easy for local people. Also the sun is hot- kills off viruses 🤔