sUSCEPTIBILITY

While the virus can infect anyone, there is higher susceptibility for the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions, as is the case for most infectious diseases. The severity of the infection is impacted by these things. As this is a pneumonia type infection it affects the upper respiratory system and the lungs meaning smokers and asthmatics are also at higher risk of developing serious symptoms.

Current reports suggest it is more likely to be server or cause death in males rather than females and in areas where epidemic community outbreak has occurred, is thought to be because of the large proportion of males who smoke in countries such as China and Italy.