An elderly man in the Netherlands has made headlines for being continuously positive for the coronavirus until his death in October 2023, a total of 613 days. The man, who was immunocompromised due to previous illnesses, was admitted to a hospital in Amsterdam in February 2022 with a Covid-19 infection.
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam have reported on this incredibly long Covid-19 infection in the man and have raised concerns about the potential emergence of more dangerous variants. The case is of particular interest to researchers because the virus can undergo significant changes in long-term infected individuals, increasing the risk of variants that could pose a threat to the immune systems of healthy people.
Genetic analysis of the virus in the man revealed more than 50 mutations compared to the Omicron variant BA.1, some of which could potentially evade immune defenses. Shockingly, the virus even developed resistance to a specific anti-coronavirus drug just 21 days after the man received it.
Despite the man’s prolonged infection, he eventually passed away from a previous illness, and according to reports, he did not infect anyone with his mutated version of the virus. However, researchers have emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the evolution of the coronavirus in immunocompromised individuals to prevent the emergence and spread of less susceptible variants in society.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the potential risks posed by long-term Covid-19 infections and highlights the need for continued vigilance in tracking the virus’s mutations in vulnerable populations.
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