The man, who tested positive in March, reportedly contracted the virus again in mid-August, but did not develop symptoms, the University of Hong Kong’s microbiology department said.
- This is the first proven case of reinfection with Covid-19.
- For the researchers, this suggests that collective immunity cannot eliminate SARS-CoV-2.
Is it possible, after contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus for the first time, to develop Covid-19 again months later? Yes, according to the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). In a press release dated Monday August 24, the researchers indicate that they have discovered a case of reinfection of Covid-19, the first proven in the world.
Two infections four and a half months apart
The 33-year-old man, who lives in Hong Kong, had tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time after having exhibited the classic symptoms of infection : cough, headache and sore throat, as well as fever.
Recovered and then tested negative twice, he was however tested positive again on August 15 at Hong Kong airport when he was returning from Spain via the United Kingdom. He did not present any symptoms of the disease this time.
For researchers,this case shows that reinfection can occur only a few months after recovery from a first infection.”
Two different strains of the virus
According to the genetic analysis carried out by the microbiologists, the patient was infected with two different strains of SARS-CoV-2. “Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may persist in the population, as is the case for other common cold-causing coronaviruses, even if patients have acquired immunity, explain the researchers. Since immunity may not last long after infection, vaccination should be considered, even for people who have already been infected.”
They also feel that it is “unlikely that herd immunity can eliminate SARS-CoV-2although subsequent infections may be less severe than the first, as was the case with this patient.”
Specialists, however, urge caution on the conclusions to be drawn from this recontamination with the coronavirus. Questioned by AFP, doctor Jeffrey Barrett, of the Wellcome Sanger Institute (United Kingdom) believes that he “It is difficult to draw definitive conclusions from a single case. Given the number of infections worldwide, even one case of re-infection is not that surprising.”
Last May, 292 South Koreans cured of Covid-19 tested positive again two weeks later. Corn these were false positivesthen informed the World Health Organization (WHO).
.