Reinfection More Severe In Four Health Workers In Mumbai

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Mumbai: Three doctors and a health worker, who underwent whole genome sequencing test after being reinfected with the novel coronavirus in Mumbai, were found to have more severe symptoms than during their first infection.

All of them were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms the first time, but were hospitalized the second time with one of them needing plasma therapy. However, none of them required oxygen which can be attributed to younger ages, the Lancet medical journal reported.

The research, reported by the Times Of India, was carried out at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in Indian capital New Delhi. It found 39 mutations within 8 genones (four from the first, four taken from the second infection).

It was also reported that an RT-PCR test could not confirm the reinfection, but the genome sequencing test found it.

Such reinfection cases have also been documented in Hong Kong, Nevada, Belgium and Ecuador.