Are Black People Immune To Coronavirus? The Truth

What You Should Know About Black People & Coronavirus

The sudden outbreak of a deadly virus ‘Coronavirus‘ has been a pain in the butt for the whole world as attempts to contain it has proved abortive. There are multiple reports circulating online, especially on social media which suggest that Black people possess some special immunity to the coronavirus.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that had not been previously identified in humans.

The virus causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever and in more severe cases, pneumonia. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face.

There are also rumors that people with an African bloodline in their family history, have special antibodies that help them fight off the coronavirus. So far, there has been no independent study that confirms that Black people are either immune, or are more resistant to the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that anyone (regardless of race) who comes into close contact with someone infected with the coronavirus is at risk for contracting it.

So why are some scientists saying that Black people are more resistant to the virus? Well, the genesis of that “claim” came from a case in China, that has doctors puzzled.

Back in January, a 21-year-old Cameroon national studying in China named Kem Senou Pavel Daryl became ill after contracting coronavirus and was hospitalized.

He was taken to the hospital and quickly made a 100% recovery. According to BBC News, “The CT scan showed no trace of the illness. He became the first African person known to be infected with the deadly coronavirus and the first to recover. His medical care was covered by the Chinese state.”

But Kem was given rounds of antibiotics and other drugs while in the hospital. So his recovery could have been a result of medical care, and not the result of a superior immune system possessed by Black people.