Scientists Confirm Nevada Man Was Infected Twice With Coronavirus

[brooklynite]

NPR

A 25-year-old was infected twice with the coronavirus earlier this year, scientists in Nevada have confirmed. It is the first confirmed case of so-called reinfection with the virus in the U.S. and the fifth confirmed reinfection case worldwide.

The cases underscore the importance of social distancing and wearing masks even if you were previously infected with the virus, and they raise questions about how the human immune system reacts to the virus.

The two infections in the Nevada patient occurred about six weeks apart, according to a case study published Monday in the medical journal The Lancet. The patient originally tested positive for the virus in April and had symptoms including a cough and nausea. He recovered and tested negative for the virus in May.

But at the end of May, he went to an urgent care center with symptoms including fever, cough and dizziness. In early June, he tested positive again and ended up in the hospital.

Six week interval...

[Doodley]

1. Is it not possible he had a false negative when tested in May?

[brooklynite]

2. Peer-reviewed analysis

They would have controlled for that possibility.

Reportedly he contracted a different strain of COVID the second time.

[LisaL]

5. NO.

NT

[Shermann]

3. Fifth confirmed reinfection case worldwide?

Statistically speaking that is basically negligible.

[Ms. Toad]

4. 34, including one death

And while it is statistically insignificant, remember that confirmation requires two tests that w were genetically sequenced. That is uncommon - especially when it is still challenging to just get a simple test to confirm you have it at all.

[LisaL]

6. Most re-infections are not "confirmed" because to confirm a virus needs to be sequenced.

It doesn't mean they are not reinfections.

[Dem2]

7. I've been telling my family this

...and I'm going to predict it here:

We'll be getting a Covid-19 booster every year with our annual flu shot (perhaps biannually until this thing is under control.)

[NorthOf270]

8. A co-worker of mine had it in September

He is now mysteriously out of work again.