[ad_1]
The 53-year-old woman’s doctor became suspicious of her patient’s medical history and tipped off the Gothenburg research group about the case. Since September, the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the University of Gothenburg have the ability to examine the genome of virus strains in their entirety. That technology makes ST doctor and PhD student Johan Ringlander sure of his case.
– In ten positions, the virus strain differed in May from the strain sampled in August. This means that we can say that there are two different infections and not the same one that has been dormant, says Johan Ringlander.
Johan Ringlander, ST Doctor in Clinical Microbiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and PhD student at the University of Gothenburg
Photo: Photo: Elin Gourlaouen / University of Gothenburg
According to the research group the finding is not surprising. Some similar cases have been reported internationally.
– It was probably only a matter of time before we had a safe case here too. We know from other coronaviruses that there is a risk of recurrence.
Does this show anything about immunity? That maybe we can’t count on that?
– No I dont think so. If anything, this shows that the woman has been granted partial immunity. He had a very mild illness the second time around, indicating that he received some protection after his first infection.
In any case, this shows that the woman has been granted partial immunity. Had a very mild illness the second time
Therefore, the result could support the assumption that the covid-19 review likely involves immunity that protects in whole or in part against re-disease, an assumption behind the advice and guidelines of the Public Health Agency.
Three other cases it has been analyzed in the Sahlgrenska study. None of them were new infections.
– In those cases, it was the same virus strain that reappeared. All of these patients were elderly and ill and previously had a weakened immune system. It may have meant that the virus could lie dormant with them, says Johan Ringlander.
When the 53-year-old woman was tested for antibodies in mid-September, she had low levels. The researchers believe that it may belong to a category that developed weak defenses against the disease and was therefore more sensitive to the new disease.
– I want to emphasize that I don’t think you should worry so much about this news. This is a unique case and that case indicates that you contract a mild illness in a covid-19 recurrence, says Johan Ringlander.
Here you can read more news from Gothenburg and western Sweden
