Milieu Relevance of Melanin’s Antiviral Effects and Interventions to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected melanin dominant people, while on the continent of Africa, this novel strain does not appear to have decimated the population. Contrary to many scientific expectations, native Africans on the continent are less impacted compared to the global number of infections in other regions of the world. Therefore, an analysis of the role of melanin and milieu should be assessed by healthcare providers who have a concern for melanin-dominant populations. Questions are raised that Melanin has antiviral effects and there are additional factors derived from comorbidity that impact the susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) embedded in institutional racism (aka the system of white supremacy-Milieu). Dietary practices, access to healthcare, lifestyle and genetics can influence the severity of illnesses associated with contracting this virulent coronavirus via intense erratic activation of the immune system among those subjected to a plethora of chronic societal stressors. In summary, this article will address the effects of this crisis on people of African descent and suggest alternative treatments as an intermediary, rather than exclusive reliance on a vaccine as preventative treatment. The relevance of such discourse is critical given America’s medical history, which has fostered profound distrust among her melanin-dominant citizenry.