Laith J Abu-Raddad1,2,3, Hiam Chemaitelly1,2, Joel A Malek4,5, Ayeda A Ahmed4, Yasmin A Mohamoud4, Shameem Younuskunju4, Houssein H Ayoub6, Zaina Al Kanaani7, Abdullatif Al Khal7, Einas Al Kuwari7, Adeel A Butt7, Peter Coyle7, Andrew Jeremijenko7, Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal7, Ali Nizar Latif7, Riyazuddin Mohammad Shaik7, Hanan F Abdul Rahim8, Hadi M Yassine9,10, Mohamed G Al Kuwari11, Hamad Eid Al Romaihi12, Mohamed H Al-Thani12, Roberto Bertollini12. 1. Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar. 2. World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar. 3. Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, USA. 4. Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar. 5. Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar. 6. Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 7. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. 8. College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 9. Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 10. Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 11. Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar. 12. Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Risk of reinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We assessed risk and incidence rate of documented SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in a cohort of laboratory-confirmed cases in Qatar. METHODS: All SARS-CoV-2 laboratory-confirmed cases with at least one PCR positive swab that is ≥45 days after a first-positive swab were individually investigated for evidence of reinfection, and classified as showing strong, good, some, or weak/no evidence for reinfection. Viral genome sequencing of the paired first-positive and reinfection viral specimens was conducted to confirm reinfection. Risk and incidence rate of reinfection were estimated. RESULTS: Out of 133,266 laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, 243 persons (0.18%) had at least one subsequent positive swab ≥45 days after the first-positive swab. Of these, 54 cases (22.2%) had strong or good evidence for reinfection. Median time between first and reinfection swab was 64.5 days (range: 45-129). Twenty-three of the 54 cases (42.6%) were diagnosed at a health facility suggesting presence of symptoms, while 31 (57.4%) were identified incidentally through random testing campaigns/surveys or contact tracing. Only one person was hospitalized at time of reinfection, but was discharged the next day. No deaths were recorded. Viral genome sequencing confirmed four reinfections out of 12 cases with available genetic evidence. Reinfection risk was estimated at 0.02% (95% CI: 0.01-0.02%) and reinfection incidence rate at 0.36 (95% CI: 0.28-0.47) per 10,000 person-weeks. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 reinfection can occur but is a rare phenomenon suggestive of protective immunity against reinfection that lasts for at least a few months post primary infection.
BACKGROUND: Risk of reinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unknown. We assessed risk and incidence rate of documented SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in a cohort of laboratory-confirmed cases in Qatar. METHODS: All SARS-CoV-2 laboratory-confirmed cases with at least one PCR positive swab that is ≥45 days after a first-positive swab were individually investigated for evidence of reinfection, and classified as showing strong, good, some, or weak/no evidence for reinfection. Viral genome sequencing of the paired first-positive and reinfection viral specimens was conducted to confirm reinfection. Risk and incidence rate of reinfection were estimated. RESULTS: Out of 133,266 laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, 243 persons (0.18%) had at least one subsequent positive swab ≥45 days after the first-positive swab. Of these, 54 cases (22.2%) had strong or good evidence for reinfection. Median time between first and reinfection swab was 64.5 days (range: 45-129). Twenty-three of the 54 cases (42.6%) were diagnosed at a health facility suggesting presence of symptoms, while 31 (57.4%) were identified incidentally through random testing campaigns/surveys or contact tracing. Only one person was hospitalized at time of reinfection, but was discharged the next day. No deaths were recorded. Viral genome sequencing confirmed four reinfections out of 12 cases with available genetic evidence. Reinfection risk was estimated at 0.02% (95% CI: 0.01-0.02%) and reinfection incidence rate at 0.36 (95% CI: 0.28-0.47) per 10,000 person-weeks. CONCLUSIONS:SARS-CoV-2 reinfection can occur but is a rare phenomenon suggestive of protective immunity against reinfection that lasts for at least a few months post primary infection.
Authors: Laith J Abu-Raddad; Soha Dargham; Hiam Chemaitelly; Peter Coyle; Zaina Al Kanaani; Einas Al Kuwari; Adeel A Butt; Andrew Jeremijenko; Anvar Hassan Kaleeckal; Ali Nizar Latif; Riyazuddin Mohammad Shaik; Hanan F Abdul Rahim; Gheyath K Nasrallah; Hadi M Yassine; Mohamed G Al Kuwari; Hamad Eid Al Romaihi; Mohamed H Al-Thani; Abdullatif Al Khal; Roberto Bertollini Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-07-19 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Andrew J Gorzalski; Christina Boyles; Victoria Sepcic; Subhash Verma; Joel Sevinsky; Kevin Libuit; Stephanie Van Hooser; Mark W Pandori Journal: Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2022-06-22 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Jose L Garrido; Matías A Medina; Felipe Bravo; Sarah McGee; Francisco Fuentes-Villalobos; Mario Calvo; Yazmin Pinos; James W Bowman; Christopher D Bahl; Maria Ines Barria; Rebecca A Brachman; Raymond A Alvarez Journal: Cell Rep Date: 2022-05-16 Impact factor: 9.995
Authors: Elliot H Akama-Garren; Shivani A Shah; Aniket N Zinzuwadia; Andrew Bartuska; Mie Hashimoto; Jacqueline T Chu; Gina R Kruse; Marya J Cohen Journal: J Ambul Care Manage Date: 2021 Jul-Sep 01
Authors: Manish C Choudhary; Charles R Crain; Xueting Qiu; William Hanage; Jonathan Z Li Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Adnan I Qureshi; William I Baskett; Wei Huang; Iryna Lobanova; S Hasan Naqvi; Chi-Ren Shyu Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 9.079