Analysis of why Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK are harder hit by COVID-19, and how to minimise the risks

Abstract

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses and different strains can cause different illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Coronaviruses can be transmitted between people and animals, e.g. SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV originally spread from camels to humans. There are other strains of coronaviruses amongst animals but have not infected humans so far. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is a new strain of coronaviruses that has not been previously seen in humans and has been spreading since December, 2019. SARS-CoV-2 is different from other strains including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is less fatal but more transmissible than SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV. As of November 5, 2020, the worldwide count is more than 47.9 million confirmed cases and more than 1.2 million confirmed deaths [1]. COVID-19 symptoms are similar to flu and common cold but may become severe leading to more complications in people with chronic health conditions and in older people [2]. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 9 in 10 people dying of the disease in England and Wales, have pre-existing illness [3]. However, having underlying health conditions is not the whole story since people from Ethnic Minorities have been hit hardest by COVID-19 compared with the White population [4]. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), hospital death rate per capita to the population average amongst Ethnic Minorities, for Pakistanis is 2.9 times and Black African deaths is 3.7 times higher than those of the White Ethnic group [5]. In this study, we have discussed how Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities are genetically different from the native inhabitants of Britain and hence why BAME groups are affected more by the virus and being closely related to the human population origins and migrations. This work represents our view and understanding of the current situation and it has emphasised on population genetic analysis, that is vital to understand and control the novel coronavirus. Some important prevention strategies have also been recommended in this work including path to improved health and natural ways to boost body's immune system. © 2021 Author(s).