“Nigerian Heat Will Make It Likely Harder For Coronavirus To Survive” — Virologist

A Consultant Virologist, Dr Adeola Fowotade, has said that hot tropical climate as obtainable in Nigeria could help suppress the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

Dr Fowotade who works at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, disclosed this this while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

According to her, some experts think the COVID-19 may behave like the influenza virus, which is a seasonal disease common in colder climate, making Nigeria too hot for coronavirus to spread.

“That is an extrapolation from what happened with influenza virus also known as the flu, which is most prevalent in colder climate during winter.

“We believe that if COVID-19 is a Respiratory Tract Infection, probably it will follow the same pattern.

“There is a very high chance there will be some remission as temperature gets warmer in those temperate places.

“But for us with tropical climate, we believe that this outbreak might not go on for too long and might abate very soon.

“This is because the droplets generated by the virus cannot travel far and this virus is an envelope virus.

“Envelop viruses are very susceptible and cannot survive very long in hot climate,” she said.

Recall that even the US president, Donald Trump had hinted in early February that the virus could die out in April when the global temperatures get warmer.

Nigeria experienced its index case of the COVID-19 last week, an Italian who flew into the country from Milan in Italy.

The patient remains isolated but is in a stable condition.