The global number of confirmed Covid-19 cases exceeded 75,700 on February 26, 2020. More than 2,100 patients had already died being 2.75% of the total. Many, many more had recovered with the balance still under care. As the number of successful treatments increases, we discover we could catch Covid-19 a second time. USA Today’s John Bacon decided to investigate.
How the Virus Infection Generates a Protective Antibody
Bacon asked Li QinGyuan, director of pneumonia prevention and treatment at China Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing how this works. Infection does produce a protective antibody that blocks a repeat infection, he replied. However, this does not last that long for certain individuals but we don’t yet understand why.
Therefore, there is always a risk of relapse. Patients who have recovered must continue to protect themselves, especially washing their hands. Bacon also spoke to Eng Eong Ooi, a professor of emerging infectious diseases at Singapore’s Duke-NUS Medical School. He explained the data is too thin to know whether an immunity will last a very short time, for several years, or a lifetime.
We Could Catch Covid-19 a Second Time – Despite Immune System
Our immune system protects our bodies from harmful substances by recognizing and responding to their antigens. These are usually proteins, although there are also toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. An immune response destroys, or tries to destroy harmful substances containing antigens. However, it disregards natural antigens in our body cells.
We are born with innate immunities, such as our skin, cough reaction, and mucus that traps bacteria and small particles. Mothers pass additional immunities through their placenta, but these usually disappear within six to twelve months after birth. Our bodies can also acquire immunities by creating new ones. Despite this, we could catch Covid-19 a second time because that immune response may not last.
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Preview Image: How an Immune Response Works
