The latest researches indicate that improved sanitation and hygiene in affluent and developed nations may, paradoxically, be a contributing factor in the increased incidences of Covid-19 related fatalities. This sheds light on the “hygiene hypothesis.”
The Research Methodology
The study is an analysis of data collected until June 29th, 2020. At that point in time, over 500,000 deaths had been recorded worldwide. Shockingly, 70% of these fatalities occurred in higher income nations. The research then correlated the death rates in various countries to parameters like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population density, Human Development Index ratings, demography, sanitation standards, hygiene practices, and the prevalence of autoimmune diseases.
The Startling Findings
Statistics revealed shocking truths. Countries with the maximum number of deaths per million people were Belgium, Spain, and Italy, all exceeding the 1,200 mark. The US and UK reported over 1,000 deaths per million people. On the flip side, India saw approximately 110 deaths per million, which is significantly less than half the global average of around 233. Several other South Asian, African, and Asiatic nations have displayed lower mortality rates.
The Confounding Paradox
Intriguingly, it was observed that poorer countries with dense populations and lower sanitation conditions have recorded far less Covid-19 related deaths compared to their richer, more developed counterparts.
Notable Exceptions
Certain countries such as Japan, Finland, Norway, Monaco, and Australia negated this trend by registering remarkably low death rates despite their high standards of sanitation and hygiene.
Other Influencing Factors
There were various other elements at play too, including the stage of the epidemic and inaccurate reporting in less developed countries, both of which could have potentially affected the mortality figures. However, it was concluded that the “hygiene hypothesis” may be a significant factor.
The Hygiene Hypothesis
The hygiene hypothesis suggests that individuals residing in areas with poor sanitation standards are exposed to communicable diseases at a young age and subsequently develop stronger immunity, a concept known as “immune training.” In contrast, citizens of wealthier countries, having superior healthcare, vaccines, and cleaner drinking water, are shielded from such infectious diseases initially. However, this could lead to their immunity system being less equipped to deal with such threats in the future.
This theory is also used to justify the occurrence of auto-immune diseases, which involves the body’s immune system erratically attacking its own cells, leading to conditions like Type-1 diabetes mellitus or multiple sclerosis. Some experts advocate for a rebranding of this hypothesis to something along the lines of the ‘microbial exposure’ or ‘microbial deprivation’ hypothesis. This would draw attention to the actual impact of microbes while not discouraging good hygiene practices.
