Hong Kong reports 'first case' of virus reinfection.

[2greys]

Hong Kong scientists are reporting the case of a healthy man in his 30s who became reinfected with coronavirus four and a half months after his first bout.

They say genome sequencing shows the two strains of the virus are "clearly different", making it the world's first proven case of reinfection.

The World Health Organization warns it is important not to jump to conclusions based on the case of one patient.

And experts say reinfections may be rare and not necessarily serious.

bbc.co.uk/news/health-53889823

[2greys]

I have already posted this scenario.

Patient contracts Covid and recovers. Patient loses antibodies, in this case 4 1/2 months later. By coincidence gets reinfected, T cells kick in to produce more antibodies, re-enters the country shortly after and antigen test picks up the virus dead or alive. He has no symptoms because the killer T cells and antibodies have done their job.

Perhaps a case of "nothing to see here, please move on"

[Kristicats in reply to 2greys]

Yes I agree.The full, factual details are not given .So really this should not have been reported as it will cause panic.

[HungryHufflepuff]

I suppose it's a bit like the flu? Just because you get the flu once doesn't mean that you won't get it again. Though I don't know if you can get it twice in a flu season. ☹️

[Izb1 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

As there are different strains of the flu you can get it more than once even if you have had the flu jab, just like this man that has been reinfected but with a different strain x

[2greys in reply to Izb1]

He did not make antibodies the first time around. So not protected for the second infection. This where it all breaks down, was he tested shortly after infection and then the T cells kicked in after testing, or was he already partially protected which only made him Asympomatic. We will never know the answer to that.

[Izb1 in reply to 2greys]

It does say there were two strains of the virus ? Does this mean that the strain changes if you have had it once? I suppose there is still alot we dont know x

[2greys in reply to Izb1]

The changes are minor, will not affect immunity, natural or via vaccine. It is arguable whether it has made any difference to it's transmission or it's mortality either.