Brazilian researchers study 218-day coronavirus infection

A group of Brazilian researchers is studying the case of a patient who has continuously tested positive for the coronavirus over a period of 218 days. During that time, the virus has replicated and even mutated. 

The patient is a 40-year-old man who, before contracting Covid-19, reportedly underwent aggressive treatment against cancer, weakening his immune system.

The patient has returned positive Covid-19 tests between September 2020 and April 2021. “During this entire period, there was a risk of transmission to other people,” explained María Mendes-Correa, a professor at the University of São Paulo’s medical school. 

Serological tests revealed that at no time did the patient develop antibodies. In addition, scientists also detected pathogen mutations during the infection process. Data suggests that the virus mutations “occurred within the same host,” when normally these changes “are observed in the community.”

• #pandemic