Conclusion
Based on current diagnostic guidelines, re-infection associated with mild symptoms was detected in 3 out of 82 patients; barring possible false positive results. We cannot confirm re-infection without positive viral cultures. We also believe that the quantity of antibodies that are produced against this virus can be sustained longer than the initial studies suggest, although the protective abilities of these antibodies against infection with the same or a different subtype of the virus needs to be studied further. The emergence of new vaccines against this virus, is a considerable achievement with limited guaranteed outcomes, because the intricacies of the long-term immune response against this virus is not fully known, and further studies on cases of supposed re-infection are needed to clarify the probability and underlying risk factors of re-infection.
Declarations of interest: none