The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which is studying reinfection among coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, has identified three to date that are being investigated, said Dr. Balram Bhargava, director general (DG ) of the ICMR. .
“We are studying the cases of reinfection. So far, three such cases have been reported; two from Mumbai and one from Ahmedabad. There are several court days that are referenced for re-infection. Although the public is spending up to 110 days, we are taking 100 as the cutoff period because the antibodies last until then, ”said Dr. Bhargava.
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A recent study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, found that reinfection could occur in patients with Covid-19, and symptoms would likely be more severe after relapse of the viral infection.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented around two dozen cases of Covid-19 reinfection. We have established telephone contact with the three reinfection cases as part of our study. They are being investigated, “he added.
On Sunday, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, also said that the ICMR had established a committee of experts to study reported cases of reinfection among Covid-19 patients.
“The ICMR has commissioned a study to investigate cases of reinfection in the country. However, its results are still awaited, ”the minister had said when responding to public inquiries on social media as part of the fifth episode of his Sunday Samvaad program.
Dr Bhargava said that although SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, was found to be mutating, the changes were negligible.
“They will have no impact on the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine which is in various stages of development in various countries around the world. Major changes, which will influence the effectiveness of the vaccine, take up to 15 years and are called antigenic changes. A small antigenic drift is reported, ”he added.
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