Spanish researchers suggest immunity to Covid-19 is short-lived
Immunity to coronavirus can be short-lived, according to a study published in Spain on Monday, which also suggested only 5.2 percent of the population have been infected.
Some 14 percent of those who tested positive for antibodies in the first stage of the study, later tested negative in the last stage.
"Immunity can be incomplete, it can be transitory, it can last for just a short time and then disappear," said Dr Raquel Yotti, director of the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid, which co-authored the study.
The loss of immunity was most common among people who never developed symptoms.
Results from the final stage of a nationwide antibody study showed 5.2 percent of the Spanish population has been exposed to the pathogen, health officials said.
The study, which tested nearly 70,000 people across Spain three times over the past three months, found the virus' prevalence had not altered significantly since preliminary results were published in May.
Comments
See Also
Some 14 percent of those who tested positive for antibodies in the first stage of the study, later tested negative in the last stage.
"Immunity can be incomplete, it can be transitory, it can last for just a short time and then disappear," said Dr Raquel Yotti, director of the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid, which co-authored the study.
The loss of immunity was most common among people who never developed symptoms.
Results from the final stage of a nationwide antibody study showed 5.2 percent of the Spanish population has been exposed to the pathogen, health officials said.
The study, which tested nearly 70,000 people across Spain three times over the past three months, found the virus' prevalence had not altered significantly since preliminary results were published in May.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.