World News | WHO Says Reports of Hong Kong Man Infected Twice by Coronavirus
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. The World Health Organization says reports that a Hong Kong man became infected twice with the coronavirus provide important information for scientists studying immunity and developing a vaccine.
Berlin, Aug 25 (AP) The World Health Organization says reports that a Hong Kong man became infected twice with the coronavirus provide important information for scientists studying immunity and developing a vaccine.
A spokeswoman for the U.N. health agency said Tuesday that the unpublished study from Hong Kong offers the first “clear documentation” that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is possible, but cautioned that the number of such cases is likely very small.
Margaret Harris noted that the case in Hong Kong was just one in 23 million lab-confirmed coronavirus infections worldwide so far.
“We will probably see other documented cases, but it seems to be not a regular event,” she told reporters.
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“We would have seen many more cases.” Harris said the case would help researchers understand how the human body builds up immunity to the virus.
“It is not the same as the immune protection that a vaccine provides,” she added, noting that part of the development of vaccines involves ensuring that they confer immunity.
“With the vaccine, you ideally want stronger immunity,” Harris said.
“That's one of the things you're looking for when you're studying what sort of immunity your candidate vaccine stimulates.” (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)