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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInfected people without symptoms might be driving the spread of coronavirus more than we realized
(CNN)New studies in several countries and a large coronavirus outbreak in Massachusetts bring into question reassuring assertions by US officials about the way the novel virus spreads.
These officials have emphasized that the virus is spread mainly by people who are already showing symptoms, such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing. If that's true, it's good news, since people who are obviously ill can be identified and isolated, making it easier to control an outbreak.
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On Tuesday, Dr. Sandra Ciesek, director of the Institute of Medical Virology in Frankfurt, Germany, tested 24 passengers who had just flown in from Israel.
Seven of the 24 passengers tested positive for coronavirus. Four of those had no symptoms, and Ciesek was surprised to find that the viral load of the specimens from the asymptomatic patients was higher than the viral load of the specimens from the three patients who did have symptoms.
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https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/14/health/coronavirus-asymptomatic-spread/index.html
BusyBeingBest
(8,059 posts)the virus will turn up, especially in certain heavy caseload areas. That said, there is literally nothing anyone can do about this.
matt819
(10,749 posts)But the more information publicly and widely available will be helpful to epidemiologists as well as offer possibly more realistic mortality rate data. Which is why testing is absolutely crucial and should not he restricted to the wealthy or the connected or celebrities.
tblue37
(65,487 posts)they could be infected without realizing it.
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)So, the fact that Trump's doctor told him he wasn't at risk and didn't need to be tested because he was asymptomatic is as irresponsible a thing I have seen in a long time. Dr. Faucci obviously accorded him benefit-of-the-doubt, but he should NOT have. This sent a message to other physicians. ANd it is WRONG and Dangerous!
Ms. Toad
(34,087 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,036 posts)dawg day
(7,947 posts)And he's probably lying about being tested last night.
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)SKKY
(11,821 posts)...where Spain has more than 5k. Its just not realistic.
FirstLight
(13,364 posts)so the Asymptomatic ones continue to go about their business and the clusterfuck continues....
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)If it is mutating sufficiently to allow reinfection that is scary as hell.
If the body's immune system (or at least in this patient) is not conferring any degree of lasting immunity--or even short term immunity, that is scary as hell.
GreenPartyVoter
(72,381 posts)Control-Z
(15,682 posts)I was assuming that anyone who got the infection and lived through it would become immune.
I've been wondering about this mostly in the case of healthcare professionals who get sick after caring for others. I just assumed they would be the most desirable healthcare workers once they became immune. But now, no. Very scary.
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)since it could be a lab error, failure to sample sufficiently following the first episode (enough times and enough body sites) or if they have some deficiency in their immune response.
The fact that we have not yet been able to produce a serology test (to show antibodies produced to the virus, rather than simple nucleic acid sequences that confirms antigen viral presence) means we don't have a way to track the immune response. These tests are more complicated and CDC is working on it, but it is critically important going forward.
Control-Z
(15,682 posts)Thanks for the info. I like to know as much as possible.
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)I will say that there are a couple of case reports of plasma from recovered patients being used to treat patients in a couple of instances with seeming success, which suggests they might have had specific antibodies from infection. Of course, it might also mean they just benefitted from the plasma alone.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)are available for each and every unlucky sob who NEEDS one?
No matter who or where you are!
But know suffering is on the way!
Some of you are not going to make it!
Some of you are going to wish you hadn't made it!
Some of you are going to wish you hadn't been so dumb!
Some of you are going to be crying, A LOT!
Some of you are going to be burdened in various ways you didn't see coming?
Some of us have no health insurance?
Some of us have nobody, literally no one, and some of them, don't even know this is about to happen?
GOOD LUCK!
Some of us are going to be better people when this is over!
Some of us are going to prison!
Some of us are going to smoke a lot of cannabis during this down time and just make the best of it?
Just remember some of us thought Donald Trump was worthy.
Just remember some of us thought President Obama was into satan and born in Kenya.
Just remember some of us thought Hillary Clinton was dying and running a sex slave ring in a pizza shop?
Just know I could go on and on and on and on and on and on and on....and didn't!