Sick man puzzles researchers: He fought the coronavirus for 49 days - was it a mutation?

The corona virus affects the infected in a variety of ways. It starts with the symptoms. Now a mutation could pose new difficulties for medical professionals.

• The spread of the coronavirus * is prevented worldwide.
• Researchers are in constant use - to collect new information about the disease.
• In the meantime there is said to be a persistent mutation of the original type.

Munich - The corona virus has been determining our lives for several weeks now - both professionally and privately. Humanity is working together to somehow cope with the pandemic . However, we are exposed to imponderables, the scope of which cannot yet be predicted. Because despite worldwide research * , the question still remains: How many people have really contracted the virus? And immediately connected to it: How high is the risk of infection * - how quickly does the new disease spread?

Experts always deliver results. Many are rather reassuring, but some also fear worse. Ultimately, however, the researchers are always faced with new puzzles. Now the Daily Mail from England reports on a case of illness , which in some way unsettles even medical professionals , with reference to Chinese media. Because in Wuhan , China , where the coronavirus is said to have spread to humans, a man struggled with the lung disease for 49 days without showing any really severe symptoms.

Corona virus mutated? Patient suffering from mild variant for 49 days

Such a period of time is extremely unusual, on average the sick would recover after 20 days . A case of 37 days of Corona disease was exceptional, but it was also much more difficult. The patient in question, who suffered from the coronavirus for a full seven weeks, had himself tested for SARS-CoV-2 in a clinic on February 8, after he had repeatedly struggled with febrile episodes for about a week. However, the middle-aged man was spared from further symptoms *.

After a positive test *, the patient was treated , and the virus could still be detected in his body after 17, 22, 26, 30, 34, 39, 43 and 49 days. In retrospect, a negative test result on day 47 can be neglected because it turned out to be an all-clear signal. As a result, the patient "rejected" the coronavirus for 49 days, as experts say. Means: prepared by breathing, sneezing or coughing - that is, completely unwanted.

Corona virus mutated? New form probably not as toxic and contagious - but long-lasting

This case was published on a homepage for scientific medical articles, the content of which still needs to be examined by experts . He suggests a new and stubborn version of the globally rampant virus - but in a milder form. The researchers assume that this putative mutation is not as toxic - i.e. toxic - and contagious , but more difficult to defeat. It also affects people regardless of age.

On the one hand, that sounds terrifying - for infected people. But can also be seen as a stimulator , the risk of infection should actually be lower . This point, however, is difficult to assess in the "classic" corona virus because of the number of unreported cases.

Corona virus mutated? Foreign blood with antibodies brings recovery

The man who fell ill in Wuhan ultimately won the fight after 49 days - but not without outside help. He was injected with blood from a healthy person who had raised antibodies to the virus. Now he is treated as a "chronically infected case" , which could take the medical profession a big step. Interestingly, a parental female relative is said to have tested positive. Pleasing: Despite previous illnesses, the woman recovered faster than the average of her age group - about which, however, is no longer known.

Two variants of the virus are already being discussed in China, the L subtype and the S subtype. According to the researchers, the former, at 70 percent, is much more widespread and is also more likely to spread to other people. It is not certain which type the case should be included.

Corona virus mutated? Mild symptoms are dangerous

"We also cannot rule out the fact that it is a new subtype that has not yet been identified," said the experts. Now there are fears that other "chronic" patients would not be treated due to the mild symptoms and could cause them to spread again.

But of course that would only be the worst case scenario . Because for a serious assessment there is simply a lack of the necessary information. And there is currently a lot of speculation about the corona virus. Because there is no certainty.

In Germany, the still very low death rate is increasing. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder addresses the population with a video message. In the meantime, the now omnipresent CSU boss achieved a record number in election polls.

German beer brewers face bankruptcy due to the Corona crisis. The Oktoberfest has not yet been canceled, but this time it could take place in a special setting.

* merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

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List of rubric lists: © dpa / Xiong Qi