Archives of Hellenic Medicine

Last update:

01-Oct-2020

Arch Hellen Med, 37(5), September-October 2020, 704-707

CASE REPORT

The role of climate change in the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus

C.V. Geladari,¹ E.V. Geladari,² E.A. Andreadis,¹ N. Vallianou,³ S.P. Dourakis²
¹Clinic of Internal Medicine, Athens Medical Group, Psychiko Clinic, Neo Psychiko,
²Second Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Athens,
³First Department of Internal Medicine, "Evaggelismos – Ophthalmiatrio of Athens – Polikliniki" General Hospital, Athens, Greece

COVID-19, caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV2, continues to pose a global threat. The consequences from the pandemic are devastating, not only for human health and the national health systems throughout the world, but also for the global economy. Bats, pangolins, muskrats and other wild animals have been implicated as possible hosts of the virus. According to recent research data, the increased concentration of particulate air matter in the atmosphere appears to have contributed significantly to the spread (airborne transmission) and aggressiveness of the disease, as large cities with high levels of air pollution showed the highest numbers of SARS-CoV2 cases and deaths. It also appears that the collapse of natural ecosystems resulting from the ever-evolving climate change has been crucial for the migration of animals to new areas and their interaction with other animals that they would not normally encounter, resulting in the emergence of new pathogens, which in turn infected humans. It is now clear that the era of "climate medicine" which will be a cornerstone for the practice of medicine in the 21st century, has already begun.

Key words: Air pollution, Climate change, Coronavirus, Double-hit hypothesis, Infectious diseases.