A man in critical condition struggling, scientists say, is the first case of reinfection with a coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa.
The 58-year-old patient with a history of asthma tested positive for the virus in September. He had a fever and difficulty breathing, but recovered in several days and was negative twice in the following month, scientists wrote in an article recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
More than 100 days later, he developed symptoms and the test was positive again. Sequencing revealed several mutations characteristic of variant B.1.351, altering peak surface proteins. A week later, the man’s condition worsened and he needed ventilation.
FIRST CASES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CORONAVIRUS VARIANT IN CALIFORNIA IDENTIFIED IN THE BAY AREA
Scientists said the strain behind the first positive test was not available for sequencing, although they noted that the case occurred before the strain appeared in South Africa and months before it was detected in France.
“This is, as far as we know, the first description of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 VOC 501Y.V2 from South Africa causing severe COVID-19, four months after a first mild infection,” wrote the study authors.
The strain has raised significant concern because it has increased transmissibility and has been shown to decrease vaccine effectiveness, with several companies now planning variant booster vaccines to increase protection against strains.
The team of French researchers said that “reinfections have been described, but remain rare, although probably underestimated” and, due to the lack of surveillance, it is difficult to confirm whether the researchers found the first true case of reinfection with the variant, according to the Washington Post.
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This strain has spread across the world since the end of last year, and there are 17 cases reported in eight U.S. states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study authors say it is still “controversial” whether the previous infection can protect against reinfections.
“Our case illustrates that the 501Y.V2 SARS-CoV-2 variant may also be responsible for severe reinfections after a first mild infection with non-VOC SARS-CoV-2,” says the study. “More research is urgently needed to assess cross-immunity against VOC 501Y.V2 and to monitor the vaccine’s effectiveness against new variants.”