Virology: Current Research

Mater Dei Hospital Medical, School of Malta, University of Malta, Malta, UK

Publications

• Research Article   
  Incidence and Case-Fatality Ratio of COVID-19 Infection in Relation to Tobacco Smoking, Access to Healthcare, Poverty, and Population Demographics in the USA
  Author(s): Yves Muscat Baron* and Liberato Camilleri
  
  Background: Tobacco smoking has been shown to increase the severity of COVID-19 infection and the risk for intra-tracheal ventilation in smokers. Tobacco smoking exposes the user and nearby individuals to very high concentrations of particulate matter in a short period of time. Genes coding for SARS-CoV-2 have been found adherent to particulate matter which has been linked to COVID-19 related mortality PM2.5. The aim of the study was to observe the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in the USA, comparing States differentiated by the degree of smoking bans, exploring a possible link between tobacco smoke-related particulate matter and SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Methodology: Two groups of USA States, differentiated by the degree of smoking legislative restrictions, had a number of variables compared. Variables related to COVID-19 were obtaine.. Read More»
  

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