Confirmed COVID-19 Reinfection in 25-Year-Old Male in the US

Different Genetic Lineages of Viruses in Primary and Secondary Infections

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Following Hong Kong, the Associated Press reported on the 28th (local time) that the first reinfection case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has been found in the United States.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory stated in an online report that a 25-year-old man living in Reno, Nevada, was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 twice.

This man initially showed mild symptoms in April and tested positive for COVID-19. After receiving two negative test results, he later exhibited more severe COVID-19 symptoms in June and was reinfected. During the second infection, he developed pneumonia and had to be hospitalized.

The researchers revealed that through detailed testing, the viruses involved in the patient's first and second infections in Reno were genetically distinct lineages.

The research team said that these findings suggest that exposure to COVID-19 once does not guarantee complete immunity for everyone.

COVID-19 reinfection was first officially confirmed in the world in Hong Kong. A 33-year-old Hong Kong man was infected with COVID-19 at the end of March, received treatment, and was declared recovered. After visiting Spain earlier this month and returning, he tested positive for COVID-19 during airport quarantine. Researchers at the University of Hong Kong estimated that the virus from the first infection originated in China, while the virus from the second infection was a variant mutated in Europe.

Reinfection cases have also been reported in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Brazil.

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