The news that a man in Nevada in the US has been infected with the coronavirus twice has made headlines around the world – but scientists say its significance is unclear.
While indicating that reinfection is possible, researchers stress it is only a single case and may not offer useful information as to whether reinfection is common.
Researchers reported in the journal The Lancet this week that the 25-year-old man, who tested positive in April and June, suffered more severe symptoms on reinfection and had to be hospitalised.
It was not the first confirmed reinfection, with at least three other people – a 33-year-old man in Hong Kong, a 51-year-old woman in Belgium and a 46-year-old man in Ecuador – having previously been reported to have had Covid-19 twice.
Every virus I've seen, as far as I know, you're never totally immune
The case in Nevada has sparked particular concern because the second infection was more severe than the first.
This could suggest the immune system, in producing antibodies against the first infection, ended up assisting rather than preventing the subsequent infection.
However, out of the other three confirmed reinfections, the second infection was less severe than the first in one case, while in another it was asymptomatic.
Data suggest reinfection is rare
Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK, told the Science Media Centre that there may have been many reinfections where the second illness was less severe or asymptomatic, but these have simply been missed.
“Given the fact that to date over 37 million people have had the infection, we would have expected to have heard of many more incidents if such very early reinfections with severe illness were common,” he said.
“Nevertheless, repeat infections do occur with different strains and I suspect many more will be found over coming months as immunity declines in individuals after infection.”
John Oxford, professor emeritus at the University of London and co-author of the textbook Human Virology, cautioned against reading too much from the findings.
“Every virus I’ve seen, as far as I know, you’re never totally immune. When you get infected, you can never be 100 per cent [sure] you won’t be reinfected,” he said.
The question of whether people who have recovered from a coronavirus infection can be reinfected has been a main talking point during the pandemic.
Typically, the body produces antibodies against the coronavirus about a week after symptoms appear, although the degree to which they offer protection against reinfection has been unclear, according to the British Society for Immunology.
Second Covid-19 infection raises questions over herd immunity
As many as one in five people who have been infected produce few or no detectable antibodies in their blood.
The body’s immune response does not just involve antibodies, with white blood cells called T cells also playing an important role.
If people cannot be reinfected, it offers hope that as the numbers who have had Covid-19 increase, transmission rates will decline because more people are immune, eventually reaching what is called herd immunity.
The case in Nevada, confirmed as two separate infections because genetic differences were found between the viruses during the two positive cases, has been interpreted by some commentators as suggesting herd immunity may be less likely to develop.
As well as potentially having implications for herd immunity, if reinfections turned out to be common it could also cast doubt on the effectiveness of immunisation programmes, as it may indicate that a vaccinated person could still be at risk of infection.
Vaccines are not, though, expected to confer immunity on all who receive them, so isolated cases of reinfection may offer little insight into the likely effectiveness of such programmes.
Prof Oxford said that he was optimistic about the vaccines under development, some of which are expected to receive clearance for widespread use in the coming months.
“Despite these reinfections, I think some of them are going to work, I really do,” he said. “Which one is another question.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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Match info
Wolves 0
Arsenal 2 (Saka 43', Lacazette 85')
Man of the match: Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal)
Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
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MATCH INFO
Champions League last 16, first leg
Tottenham v RB Leipzig, Wednesday, midnight (UAE)
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
MEYDAN RESULTS
6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).
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Winner Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
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Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
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Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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