First SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Case revealed by Research at HK

In a paper published yesterday (25 August 2020), the researchers at the University of Hong Kong identified the first reinfection case of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and proved the reinfection with whole genome sequencing approaches.

The patient is a 33-year-old immunocompetent male who returned to Hong Kong from Spain via the United Kingdom [1]. He was asymptomatic in his second episode of infection which was about 4.5 months after the first one [1]. In order to distinguish the status of “reinfection” from the prolonged shedding of the virus, the research team led by Kwok-Yung Yuen at HKU performed whole genome analysis on the respiratory specimens from two episodes of infection from the patient --- the 24 nucleotide difference indicated the two SARS-CoV-2 strains belonged to distinct lineages, in tandem with other evidence from epidemiological, clinical and serological data [1]. 

This report implies the failure of herd immunity to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, while immunity offered by vaccines may not sustain against new infection [1].  It is likely to expect the virus to be circulating in human populations, like common-cold coronaviruses [1].

References:

1. To KK, Hung IF, Ip JD, et al. COVID-19 re-infection by a phylogenetically distinct SARS-coronavirus-2 strain confirmed by whole genome sequencing [published online ahead of print, 2020 Aug 25]. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;ciaa1275. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1275