Havana: Cuba today is carrying out several studies that cover branches such as demography and genetics, with the purpose of learning more about the characteristics of Covid-19 and applying that knowledge to coping strategies, Prensa Latina publishes.
Scientists and experts inquire about the socio-demographic characteristics of the island’s population that suffered from the disease, and also about the genetic risk factors associated with the clinical severity of this ailment.
The preliminary results of both investigations were presented at the meetings of the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the prime minister, Manuel Marrero, with the group of specialists who from the sciences face the pandemic at this stage.
In the case of the socio-demographic inquiry, the doctor of science Antonio Aja, director of the Center for Demographic Studies at the University of Havana, asserted that he looked for demographic, family and economic issues, among others.
Meanwhile, the study undertaken by the National Center for Medical Genetics (CNGM) considered aspects such as blood group, the presence of comorbidities, symptoms developed during infection and the generation of antibodies, in addition to elements such as age, sex, skin color and occupation.
More than 700 investigations were generated in the Caribbean nation since the report of the first positive cases to Covid-19, last March, and these in particular contribute to perfecting the strategies of population interventions, in addition to adjusting the protocols with an eye on in the new normal.
An example of these contributions are the findings of the CNGM, in conjunction with other institutions, referring to higher positivity and specific antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent people from severe and symptomatic forms of Covid-19 than in asymptomatic patients.
Meanwhile, the socio-demographic research showed the majority presence of young people among the asymptomatic in the country, and that women show more signs of vulnerability to the disease, an aspect that must be studied in detail for the design of future policies.