A woman became infected with the coronavirus after recovering from an initial attack in July, in what doctors claimed to be the first case showing that reinfection can occur within a few months.
The 27-year-old Bengaluru woman tested positive again nearly a month after she was treated and released from the hospital, Fortis Hospital confirmed Sunday. This is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection in Bengaluru, Fortis Hospital said.
The world’s first COVID-19 reinfection was reported in Hong Kong on August 24. Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender previously said there were two cases of coronavirus reinfection in the state. Two days ago, a doctor in Mumbai tested positive for the second time after a two-month interval.
The Indian Council of Medical Research previously said that there is “no need to be greatly alarmed” by the case of COVID-19 reinfection reported in Hong Kong, but at the same time maintained that it is not yet known how long immunity lasts in case of coronavirus. .
“We have read with interest the reports of reinfection in a case in Hong Kong. We are learning more and more about the disease as we progress. It can depend on several factors, one can relate to the patient himself, how is his immunity, how his immune status was there, he was compromised. It can also depend on the virus, if the virus has mutated or has become virulent, “said ICMR CEO Balram Bhargava.
“We need to know how long immunity lasts. We need to closely monitor it, but at the same time we don’t need to be immensely alarmed by it,” added Bhargava.
Health experts generally believe that people who had COVID-19 will have some immunity against repeat infection. But they don’t know how much protection or how long it would last. This is important because if immunity wears off, it could pose a challenge for vaccines. Some experts say that booster shots may be needed.
India’s COVID-19 case count surpassed 41 lakh with a record 90,632 people infected in one day, according to data released by the Union Ministry of Health. The total number of coronavirus cases rose to 41,13,811, while the death toll rose to 70,626.
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