To find them, they could look to the experience of Asia, which has been battling the deadly pathogen since January — with some success. But, it is one of the many mysteries of the coronavirus pandemic: Why has the death toll from Covid-19 apparently been lower in Asia than in Western Europe and North America? But researchers are also examining other factors, including differences in genetics and immune system responses, separate virus strains and regional contrasts in obesity levels and general health. Scientists at Japan’s Chiba University plotted the trajectory of the virus across the world and said they noticed stark regional disparities. In Asia, meanwhile, previous experience with the SARS and MERS epidemics enabled much faster responses to the new threat.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 31, 2020 09:56 UTC