Researchers in Hong Kong Monday claimed to have proved that a man was infected by coronavirus for a second time after having recovered from the illness.
It is the first such case documented by a team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong. The man, 33, an IT worker, recovered from coronavirus and later was released from hospital in April, according to rthk.com. However, he again tested positive for the virus when he returned from Spain the following month.
“SOME PATIENTS HAVE WANING ANTIBODY LEVEL AFTER FEW MONTHS”
“Many believe that recovered coronavirus patients have immunity against re-infection because most developed a serum neutralizing antibody response. However, there is evidence that some patients have waning antibody level after a few months,” the researchers said.
“Our findings suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2] may persist in the global human population as is the case for other common cold-associated human coronaviruses, even if patients have acquired immunity via natural infection,” they added.
The researchers said the patients who recovered after getting coronavirus should also wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Monday reported its lowest coronavirus cases since July 3 with only nine new infections. The semi-autonomous region under China has reported 4,691 infections and 77 deaths due to coronavirus.