Unique Covid Variant Develops in Longest Infected Patient
The scientists at the University of Amsterdam’s Centre for Experimental and Molecular Medicine made a significant discovery regarding a Dutch man’s battle with Covid-19.
Details of the Case
- The 72-year-old patient battled Covid-19 for a record 613 days.
- During this time, the virus mutated multiple times, resulting in a unique new variant.
- Researchers were surprised by the patient’s prolonged infection, noting it as the longest documented case.
Medical Findings
The patient ultimately succumbed to an underlying illness exacerbated by a weakened immune system due to the virus.
Initial infection with the omicron variant in February 2022 posed challenges as the patient had a blood disorder and a weak immune response to Covid vaccinations.
Research Insights
Researchers conducted a detailed analysis of specimens from nose and throat swabs, revealing:
- The virus developed resistance to sotrovimab, a Covid antibody treatment, within weeks.
- Over 50 mutations were observed in the virus within the patient’s body.
- The virus showed an enhanced ability to evade immune defenses.
Implications and Recommendations
The authors emphasized the need for continued genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised individuals with persistent infections.
Related Study
A study by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies on STIs and AIDS of Catalonia highlighted:
- People living with HIV who contract Covid-19 face a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases in the year following infection.
