Trump’s coronavirus task force issues stark warning of ‘concerning trend’ of double the number of men than women dying from the disease in Italy, and says Americans must continue to be vigilant
- Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force, told reporters on Friday that twice as many men as women are dying
- Birx said this is a ‘concerning trend’ and should make Americans more vigilant
- US data on mortality rates regarding men vs women is not currently available
- In the US, there are more than 16,000 confirmed cases and at least 214 deaths
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Dr Deborah Birx, from the White House coronavirus task force, spoke on Friday about ‘concerning’ trends being seen across the globe as the outbreak spreads.
Birx, the response coordinator, specifically discussed Italy, which has more deaths than China, and said twice as many men as women are dying.
‘Frankly from Italy we are seeing another concerning trend that the mortality in males seems to be twice in every age group of females,’ she told reporters at a press briefing.
‘This should alert all of us to continue our vigilance to protect our Americans that are in nursing homes.’
US data on mortality rates regarding men compared to women women is not yet available. DailyMail.com has contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for comment.
Dr Deborah Birx (center), a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said twice as many men as women are dying in Italy
Birx said this is a ‘concerning trend’ and should make Americans more vigilant. Pictured: Intensive care unit at the Nuova Poliambulanza hospital in Bresica Italy, March 20
In Italy, men have made up nearly 60 percent of people with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Pictured: A medical worker wearing a protective mask and suit looks on as she treats a patient suffering from coronavirus disease in Cremona, Italy, March 19
In Italy, deaths reached 3,405 on Thursday – 156 more than in China, the Italian Civil Protection Agency reported at a news conference.
In Italy, men have made up nearly 60 percent of people with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Regarding deaths, more than 70 percent of those who have died are males.
An earlier analysis found figures were even higher with 80 percent of deaths reported in men and 20 percent in women – but the gap has narrowed since.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, more women than women have been infected, about 61 percent compared to 39 percent.
However, more men than women – 54 percent vs 46 percent – have died.
Data out of China, where the pandemic started and outbreaks are now petering out, shows that at least two-thirds of patients who died were male.
In the Asian country, researchers pointed the finger at men being more likely to smoke and drink, but this was a cultural factor which may be different in other countries.
It may be necessary for men to be more careful than women about avoiding the coronavirus, experts said.
In the US, data on mortality rates and infection rates regarding men vs women is not currently available. Pictured: Medics transport a patient into an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, in Washington, March 12
The CDC has not released data on mortality rates or infections regarding men versus women and has left that up to states to release.
In Michigan, out of more than 300 COVID-19 cases, 51 percent have been reported as occurring in men and 47 percent in women.
Not all states have been released the ages and genders of victims, especially New York which is rising rapidly.
DailyMail.com reviewed 91 out of 214 reported deaths and found 40 are men and 39 are women.
Across all 50 states and several territories, there are more than 16,000 cases and at least 214 deaths.