Lessons from Covid-19
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has sent a reminder of the imminent effects of climate change in our society. It has further highlighted the fragility of the balance between humans and environment, and has clearly exposed biological inequity in our society.
Since Sars-Cov-2 is a novel virus, all individuals’ immune systems are equally unprepared for it. Nevertheless, data is showing that COVID-19 has affected ethnic minorities and communities living in deprived areas far more than other parts of society. For instance, in the UK Black minorities are 4.3 times more likely to die as a result of COVID-19 than their White counterparts. How do these two facts reconcile? Genetics and epigenetics alone cannot explain these differences, since no gene currently exists to specifically prevent COVID-19 infection. The reason why these disproportionate effects are present is due to susceptibility caused by a dysregulated stress response.
Areas experiencing the most severe COVID-19 outcomes mostly consist of deprived communities, many of which are composed of ethnic minorities, due to the systemic application of racism/classism. The high stressor levels arising from living in polluted and poor areas have a significant negative impact on the health of a community, making it more susceptible to any disease.
A new outcome of COVID-19 is currently being explored in individuals who recovered from the virus, named longhaul COVID-19. This term indicates long-term health repercussions from coronavirus infection, such as severely damaged lung lining, persistent migraines and fatigue even months after testing negative for the virus. Longhaul COVID-19 warrants more research into health and prevention using ecological settings, to avoid such negative long-term effects that would have devastating effects for individuals and healthcare.
The pandemic has further highlighted the need to consider social differences when redefining health in an ecological perspective, in order to establish biological equity for all communities.