The Epidemiology of COVID-19: A Review

• Published in: African journal of reproductive health 2020-07, Vol.24 (S2), p.117-124
• Main Author: Balogun, Joseph A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; COVID-19; Epidemiology; Fatalities; Medical colleges; Minority & ethnic groups; Pregnancy; Womens health
• ISSN: 1118-4841
• DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2020/v24i2s.16

COVID-19 is a new lethal disease with limited information on its transmissibility, the severity of its sequelae, its clinical manifestations, and epidemiology. This commentary analyzed the global epidemiology of COVID-19 among the vulnerable population. The analysis revealed that most pediatric COVID-19 cases are not severe, but related severe illness still occurs in children. All ages of children are susceptible to COVID-19, and no significant gender difference exists. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy produced fatal outcomes for mothers, but less risky for the baby. The hot spot clusters for COVID-19 are the prisons/jails, nursing/group homes, and long-term facilities where most of the vulnerable populations reside. Ethnic minority groups in the USA and UK are disproportionately exposed to COVID-19 infection and death than Caucasians. The difference may be because ethnic minorities are exposed to higher risks at work and the long-standing structural economic and health disparities in the two countries. There are now changes in guidelines on who is qualified to receive ventilators in dire situations in many countries around the world if the healthcare system is overwhelmed. (Afr J Reprod Health 2020 (Special Edition); 24[2]: 117-124). Keywords: COVID-19, Epidemiology Le COVID-19 est une nouvelle maladie mortelle avec des informations limitees sur sa transmissibilite, la gravite de ses sequelles, ses manifestations cliniques et l'epidemiologie. Ce commentaire a analyse l'epidemiologie mondiale du COVID-19 parmi la population vulnerable. L'analyse a revele que la plupart des cas pediatriques de COVID-19 ne sont pas graves, mais que des maladies graves associees surviennent toujours chez les enfants. Tous les ages des enfants sont sensibles au COVID-19 et aucune difference significative entre les sexes n'existe. L'infection au COVID-19 pendant la grossesse a eu des consequences fatales pour les meres, mais moins risquees pour le bebe. Les groupes de points chauds pour le COVID-19 sont les prisons / prisons, les maisons de soins infirmiers / de groupe et les etablissements a long terme ou resident la plupart des populations vulnerables. Les groupes ethniques minoritaires aux Etats-Unis et au Royaume-Uni sont exposes de maniere disproportionnee a l'infection au COVID-19 et a la mort que les Caucasiens. La difference peut etre due au fait que les minorites ethniques sont exposees a des risques plus eleves au travail et aux disparites structurelles economiques