Doctors in the UK have released details of what they believe to be the longest Covid-19 infection on record, lasting more than 16 months.
The patient, who had underlying conditions, had detectable levels of the virus for 505 days, and died in hospital last year.
Most people recover quickly on their own, but in rare cases, infections can become prolonged in those with weakened immune systems.
Experts suspect extended infections in those who are immunocompromised play a role in creating Covid-19 variants, because the virus has more time to experiment and learn how to avoid defences.
The patient in the UK first caught the virus in early 2020.
Dozens of positive tests
The infection was confirmed by a PCR test, which was repeated each time the person visited hospital over the next 72 weeks, about 50 times in total.
The patient tested positive every time, never becoming clear of the virus, despite receiving antiviral treatment.
Tests revealed it was the same infection and no mutations were spawned.
“We have seen few patients with positivity of Covid [for] even more than three months, but we haven't come across [any] like those reported — more than 16 months,” said Dr Sarla Kumari from Canadian Specialist Hospital Dubai.
“Anyone with multiple comorbidities and a weak immune system can find it difficult to eradicate the virus.”
Cases of such prolonged infections are rare, but viral persistence is suspected in playing a role in long Covid, a much more common problem characterised by lingering symptoms.
In that theory, which is one of several to explain the phenomenon, the virus hides out in the body somewhere, continuing to wreak havoc.
“Long Covid is the term used when people experience Covid-19 symptoms for more than 12 weeks,” said Dr Karthikeyan Dakshinamurthy, a specialist in internal medicine at NMC Royal Hospital DIP.
“The most common symptoms patients experience are fatigue, chest tightness or shortness of breath, inability to concentrate on work and dizziness.”
Symptoms can include long-term changes in smell or taste.
“Long Covid symptoms can happen in normal people without any risk factors. They need to rule out other causes of these symptoms. People should understand long Covid symptoms,” Dr Dakshinamurthy said.
This week it was revealed that a woman caught two Covid variants in 20 days — the shortest gap so far confirmed by genome sequencing.
The 31-year-old healthcare worker first tested positive using a PCR test on December 20, 2021, 12 days after receiving a booster shot. She was totally asymptomatic.
But on January 10, 21 days after her previous positive test, she began to feel unwell with a cough and fever. She performed another PCR test, which was also positive.
The infections were caused by the Delta and Omicron variants.
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Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
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Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
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if you go
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
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Price: Dh469,000
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The view from The National
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Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- 600-seat auditorium
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Biblioasis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sting & Shaggy
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(Interscope)
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