By Aaron Miller-
A 25 year old male U.S patient who was a resident of Washoe County in the state of Nevada has revealed he contracted Covid-19 twice, within a period of 6 weeks. The second infection was symptomatically more severe than the first. Genomic analysis showed the two viral agents were genetically distinct.
Three weeks after the gentleman tested positive, he tested negative. He again tested negative just over two weeks later (17days precisely) but 9 days later was positive again.
The patient, whose identity has not been divulged, was presented to a community testing event held by the Washoe County Health District on April 18, 2020. He had symptoms consistent with viral infection (sore throat, cough, headache, nausea, and diarrhoea), which had started on March 25, 2020 (figure 1).
Doctors say the man had no history of clinically significant underlying conditions, and no indications of compromised immunity were identified. Exactly what they mean by significant underlying issues is without clarification, suggesting the possibility he had underlying conditions adjudged insignificant. During isolation, the patient’s symptoms resolved (reported on April 27, 2020) and he continued to feel well until May 28, 2020.
On May 31, 2020, the patient sought care at an urgent care centre with self-reported fever, headache, dizziness, cough, nausea, and diarrhoea, at which time chest radiography was done and he was discharged home.
Five days later , the patient presented to a primary care doctor and was found to be hypoxic(when a region of the body has inadequate oxygen supply)with shortness of breath. He was instructed to go to the emergency department after provision of oxygen. There are only four reported cases of individuals who were Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, and now leads to the conclusion that previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 does not necessarily translate to guaranteed total immunity.
The news, published in the Lancet Journal has led to the conclusion among experts and researchers that Covid-19 could become endemic in the world. Which means it could become like the strong common flu which comes and goes, and which most people could be susceptible to. The main fear is that if certain people with particular underlying issues contract the virus, they could die because of significant less resistance to the virus.
The fact only 4 people recorded to have had the virus twice can be seen as a sign that most people become immune after contracting it the first time. Another interpretation could be that most people who get it the first time become asymptomatic the second occasion and not even know when they next contract it. An automatic conclusion is that many asymptomatic individuals may never know they ever had the virus.