Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

November 23, 2020

Evidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfection After Recovery from Mild Coronavirus Disease 2019

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Genetic sequencing among 6 patients who retested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via rRT-PCR after recovery from initial infection identified one reinfection with a subtype of SARS-CoV-2 strain in the spike protein D614G substitution, that was genetically distinct from the initial infection. The positive test with the new strain occurred 26 days after the initial positive test and was associated with worsening respiratory symptoms. The participant tested positive in a third episode with viral fragments that matched the initial strain. The authors conclude that SARS-CoV-2 infection may not confer immunity against a different SARS-CoV-2 strain.

Lee et al. (Nov 21, 2020). Evidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfection After Recovery from Mild Coronavirus Disease 2019. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1421