People with this blood type more likely to contract COVID-19 – WHNT News 19

by: Lauren Daniels, Nexstar Media Wire

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Early on in the pandemic, research suggested that ones blood type might impact whether or not that person was more likely to contract COVID-19.

Now, new research from Harvard University and Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) shows how people with type A blood are more likely to become infected.

Experts say the findings theyve made in Oklahoma are just another piece of the puzzle as theyve worked to solve this virus.

Its real, its on the ground and now its getting us a little bit of understanding of whats causing it, said Dr. John Armitage with the OBI.

The OBI began providing free antibody testing to blood donors in July.

Dr. Armitage says they noticed that a larger number of donors with types A or AB had COVID-19 antibodies as compared to those with type O.

So we saw a 2.5% difference in the results we get back from those two different types of donors, he said.

Now, researchers at Harvard have an explanation as to why type As are getting COVID-19 at this slightly higher rate.

So the As have a substance very similar to their A blood group thats lining their lungs and their bronchi and respiratory tract, Armitage said.

In simple terms, he says that type As provide a stickier environment for COVID-19 to cling to, causing infection.

If you think of a family maybe somebody picks up the virus in a family from an event or theyve been traveling together maybe its a married couple and somebody gets the infection and the other doesnt it might be related to blood group, somebody might be more susceptible with that A, Armitage said.

Armitage says everyone should still take the COVID-19 precautions we know no matter their blood type.

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People with this blood type more likely to contract COVID-19 - WHNT News 19