https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2818-3

Abstract

A recent genetic association study1 identified a gene cluster on chromosome 3 as a risk locus for respiratory failure upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. A new study2 comprising 3,199 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and controls finds that this is the major genetic risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization (COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative). Here, we show that the risk is conferred by a genomic segment of ~50 kb that is inherited from Neanderthals and is carried by ~50% of people in South Asia and ~16% of people in Europe today


For thosr who want to wade deeply into the weeds, here is the whole paper

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2818-3.epdf?sharing_token=EpB52HO-pg4HSKnaQeBYjdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MLcfiSFm2PKr9jeM7FZtJjsbUNWozZQ8UWa9r5M17moupqOHSLNDfyseXp2PLVE6f8Kt8BdJOLKGGdKlL6R-niTvFIpNdLtU6yZ6h9ttjJX6joCfb_6R4UC0jxMCP8DeE%3D

> Here, we show that the risk
> is conferred by a genomic
> segment of ~50 kb that is
> inherited from Neanderthals
> and is carried by ~50% of
> people in South Asia and ~16%
> of people in Europe today...

Cut to the chase! Can Lambda save us?

Was Zelph part Neanderthal?

Fascinating. It will be interesting to see if the lethality is greater in South Asia than in Europe (all other factors considered).

"In apparent agreement with this, individuals of Bangladeshi origin in the UK have about two times higher risk to die from COVID-19 than the general population (hazard ratio 95% CI: 1.7-2.4)24."

It doesn't clearly establish that the genetic factor is the cause of increased mortality as it does not exclude other possible factors. but it is an interesting correlation.

It will probably take a while to get the data that corrects for the "other possible factors."

Headline : "Disney lays off 28,000 workers due to failed US COVID-19 response"