Displaying items by tag: increased risk

British scientists have identified a gene that doubles the risk of dying from Covid-19, opening up possibilities for targeted medicine and providing new insights into why some people are more susceptible to the disease than others. Researchers at Oxford University found that 60% of people with South Asian ancestry carry the high-risk gene. The discovery partly explains the high number of deaths seen in some British communities, and the effect of Covid in the Indian subcontinent. The scientists found that the increased risk is not because of a difference in genetic coding of the proteins, but because of differences in the DNA that makes a kind of ‘switch’ to turn a gene on. That genetic signal is likely to affect cells in the lung. The study shows that the way in which the lung responds to the infection is critical. This is important because most treatments have focused on changing the way in which the immune system reacts to the virus.

The flu season has started early this year. Doctors are predicting a rise in cases, with hundreds of thousands possibly having Christmas ruined by flu. GP consultations for flu-like illness were up by a quarter to 7,500 visits in the week ending 8 December. Grandparents visiting grandchildren could be particularly at risk. Children are ‘super-spreaders’ of flu, and the elderly can develop complications if they catch it. While more over-65s are having a free flu jab this year, coverage among two- to three-year-olds is lagging behind previous seasons, following delivery delays of nasal flu vaccine. These have now been resolved, but some school flu programmes will not begin until January. Experts are urging anyone who has not yet had their vaccination to do so.