[ad_1]
In Nevada, a man developed symptoms even more severe than the first after a second corona infection. It is the fourth documented case of a second infection. That’s what science says about it.
Will we be immune to the crown at some point? Studies are always bringing to light new knowledge about the new coronavirus. Sars-CoV-2 in the electron microscope.
Photo: BSIP / UIG (Getty Images)
The idea is tempting: anyone who is infected with Corona is later immune and therefore no longer poses any risk to others. Of course, the end of the pandemic would be inevitable, so to speak. Hopes for such immunity persist, but medical professionals are skeptical.
Now a case has become known in the US that further fuels doubts about corona immunity. A 25-year-old man from the state of Nevada had met in a month and a half. twice infected with Sars-CoV-2 virus. After the second infection he showed more severe symptoms than after the first. This comes from a Tuesday in the trade magazine «Infectious Diseases from The Lancet»Study published. Consequently, the man had to be admitted to hospital and ventilated after his second infection.
The investigation mentioned four other cases around the world in which people were infected with Corona a second time. These cases were found in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Ecuador. The first case was documented in Hong Kong. Several months after the first Sars-CoV-2 infection, a new infection was confirmed in a 33-year-old patient. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong concluded that immunity after infection “may be short-lived.” Read more about this: The enigma of contagion renewed
Different variants of Sars-CoV-2
The researchers also reached a similar conclusion in the most recent case from the US It is not yet clear how long immunity will last after an initial infection with the virus, writes the study’s lead author, Mark Pandori. But the study shows that a previous infection does not necessarily protect against repeated infections. Read more about this: Can contamination work?
As early as the spring there were reports from South Korea that there was another infection after an initial infection. However, it later turned out that the virus particles found weeks later probably still came from the first infection.
According to the study authors, this is different with the 25-year-old from Nevada. The patient tested positive for the first time on April 18 and for the second time on June 5. Meanwhile, two tests came back negative.
Analysis of the Sars-CoV-2 virus genome would also have shown significant differences between the two variants after the respective infection. According to the authors, the man was infected with two different variants of the virus.
The study authors rule out a virus mutation in the patient. “Therefore, prior exposure to Sars-CoV-2 may not guarantee complete immunity in all cases,” the authors write. This means that those who tested positive should continue to take precautionary measures, such as keeping physical distance from other people, wearing protective masks, and washing their hands regularly.
Relevant for vaccine development
According to the study, evidence of new infections also has an impact on the development of corona vaccines. Hong Kong investigators had already pointed this out. According to them, a vaccine can only protect against infection for a limited time. This means that vaccination protection should be renewed over and over again, as is the case with other immunizations.
The good news is the growing evidence of cross immunity. Consequently, Sars-CoV-2 resembles the known cold corona viruses in many places. If someone has already had contact with these, the immune system can also recognize their structures in the new virus. This would suggest that some people already have some protection against the new corona virus. Read more about this: We are not so helpless.
With agency material.
