After Hong Kong, Telangana reports 2 COVID-19 reinfections raising concerns about immunity

On Tuesday, Telangana reported two cases of COVID-19 reinfection, giving rise to worries that those who have recovered from disease may t be immune to future infections. As per Health Ministry of Telangana, two people have tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time. This is first such case in Telangana where people have contracted coronavirus for second time.

This comes a day after researchers in Hong Kong reported first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection

As per reports, Health Ministry of Telangana source said, " total number of coronavirus cases stands at 1,08,670 in state. Of se two persons have contracted dely virus for second time. public should follow COVID-19 guidelines and prevent mselves from getting infected."

Speaking to a Telugu news channel, Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivas Rao said  samples of infected patients have been sent to research labs which will be studied furr to see if any complications can arise due to a reinfection

Telangana currently has 1,11,688 confirmed COVID-19 cases out of which 25,685 are active according to Health Ministry. A total of 85,223 have recovered since coronavirus outbreak in state. Health Ministry has reported a total of 780 coronavirus deaths in Telangana.

WHO on Coronavirus reinfection

Earlier, Hong Kong reported a man who contracted coronavirus for second time after over four months. University of Hong Kong scientists anunced that current coronavirus strain is different from one that infected man months ago. Following this, World Health Organization said that re is very little possibility of people being reinfected with COVID-19.

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" important – or important - thing to te is numbers are very, very small. So this is one documented case in over 23 million and we will probably see or documented cases. But it seems to be t a regular event, we would have seen many more cases, " said WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris 

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" important thing here is that this is clear documentation. So, we've h anecdotal reports every w and n from people who've tested negative, n tested positive. And it hasn't been clear up until this case wher that was simply a problem of testing or wher people were getting infected a second time," she ded.

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WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris also said that y have prioritised need to understand how this will impact our immunity. WHO has research groups tracking people and antibodies and working on understanding how long antibodies last and protect person as well as natural immunity Dr Margaret furr said. She also ded that WHO is doing it's best to understand immunity and protection that a vaccine might be able to provide.

Re | WHO: Virus Reinfection Seems t To Be Regular Event

(With inputs from ANI & AP)