BHUBANESWAR: More men are falling prey to Covid-19 than women in Odisha.
Records reveal that of the total virus deaths in the state, 75% are men and 25% women while among total infected, 64% are men while women make up the rest 36%.
As of June 7, a total of 3,080 people died of Covid-19 out of which 2,302 were men and 777 women besides one transgender.
Of the total 8.25 lakh infected during this period, 5.30 lakh were men and 2.94 lakh women.
This apart, 66 transgenders had tested positive.
Experts said various studies suggest men dying of Covid is more than that of women globally.
“Different studies have attributed it to reasons ranging from genetics to enzymes to immune system.
More studies should be done to find out why more men are dying though primarily it may be because overall infection among men is more than that of women,” said Jayant Panda, a professor of medicine at SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Alok Kanungo, a diabetologist who heads the KIDS Covid Hospital in Bhubaneswar, said one simple reason of more deaths among men is higher infection than that of women.
“This may be because more men are stepping outside than women, which may be due to their work.
Also, more men than women have a tendency not to obey Covid-appropriate behaviour.
A cross-section of men have a tendency to show their so-called machismo to violate Covid protocol.
Issues like smoking which may be correlated to health of lungs is more in men than women,” Kanungo said.
“Largely, men bring infection home.
So they have higher virus caseload.
Even if a woman in the family gets infected, the virus load may be less,” he added.
In the 0-5 age group, three boys died while it was nil in the case of girls.
In the 6-14 age group, six boys and three girls died.
In 15-44, the deaths include 472 men and 152 women.
Among 45-60 years bracket, 941 men and 336 women succumbed to the virus while in those above 60 years, 880 men and 298 women died.