Background There is sufficient epidemiological and biological evidence of increased human susceptibility to viral pathogens such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus and influenza virus, in cold weather. The pattern of outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China during the flu season is further proof that meteorological conditions may potentially influence the susceptibility of human populations to coronaviruses, a situation that may become increasingly evident as the current global pandemic of COVID-19 unfolds. Main body A very rapid spread and high mortality rates have characterized the COVID-19 pandemic in countries north of the equator where air temperatures have been seasonally low. It is unclear if the currently high rates of COVID-19 infections in countries of the northern hemisphere will wane during the summer months, or if fewer people overall will become infected with COVID-19 in countries south of the equator where warmer weather conditions prevail through most of the year. However, apart from the influence of seasons, evidence based on the structural biology and biochemical properties of many enveloped viruses similar to the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 (aetiology of COVID-19), support the higher likelihood of the latter of the two outcomes. Other factors that may potentially impact the rate of virus spread include the effectiveness of infection control practices, individual and herd immunity, and emergency preparedness levels of countries. Conclusion This report highlights the potential influence of weather conditions, seasons and non-climatological factors on the geographical spread of cases of COVID-19 across the globe.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, infection control, emergency preparedness, season, human immunity, Case spread, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Coronaviruses, coronavirus, Immunity, susceptibility, COVID-19 pandemic, Influenza virus, virus, global pandemic, Spread, China, outcomes, COVID-19 infection, respiratory syncytial virus, outbreak, Effectiveness, temperature, epidemiological, flu, Other, Evidence, Middle East, human population, Support, acute respiratory syndrome, Factor, biochemical, virus spread, respiratory syndrome coronavirus, high mortality rate, viral pathogen, aetiology, métapneumovirus, country, likelihood, highlight, globe, include, characterized, condition, conditions, increasingly, infected with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 Spread, COVID-19 case, condition, biology of SARS-CoV-2,