EditorialRare reinfection no cause for Hong Kong to panic
- It would be wrong to jump to conclusions following the discovery by Hong Kong scientists, and further studies into Covid-19 are required
Eight months of living with Covid-19 has taught us much about the world’s most disruptive coronavirus in a century. But while we know to wear a mask when leaving home, sanitise and wash hands thoroughly and keep a safe distance from others, there is much we still do not know.
Hong Kong researchers have caused concern among some about the effectiveness of vaccines being developed with the first scientifically proven case of a person being reinfected with the disease.
As alarming as that would seem, the World Health Organisation and others have soberly warned that it is wrong to jump to conclusions from the experience of a single patient and larger studies are needed.
The 33-year-old man was confirmed with having Covid-19 on returning from a trip to Spain, 41/ 2 months after being first infected and recovering. Genome sequencing by scientists at the University of Hong Kong showed the two virus strains were different, confirming the reinfection.
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World’s first coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong, a university study reports
But that is not cause for panic as the case is a rarity among the more than 23 million global infections so far reported and the seriousness is uncertain. It does not mean the search for a vaccine and other treatments is in vain.