by © Ilzekalve | Dreamstime.com Levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies wane quite rapidly after infection, researchers from Imperial College London have found. The team, which measured SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in 365,000 people between June and September saw a decline of 26% in the number testing positive for antibodies. At the start, antibodies were found in 6.0% of ...
Topics:
Investec considers the following as important: 3) Swiss Markets and News, 3.) Health, Covid-19 Switzerland, Editor's Choice, Featured, health, newsletter, SARS-CoV-2 Switzerland
This could be interesting, too:
Investec writes Swiss to vote on tenancy laws this weekend
Eamonn Sheridan writes CHF traders note – Two Swiss National Bank speakers due Thursday, November 21
Charles Hugh Smith writes How Do We Fix the Collapse of Quality?
Marc Chandler writes Sterling and Gilts Pressed Lower by Firmer CPI
© Ilzekalve | Dreamstime.com
Levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies wane quite rapidly after infection, researchers from Imperial College London have found.
The team, which measured SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in 365,000 people between June and September saw a decline of 26% in the number testing positive for antibodies.
At the start, antibodies were found in 6.0% of those tested with prick blood tests. During September the percentage was 4.4%, a drop of 26% over roughly 3 months.
The downward trend was observed across all age groups, but not in health workers, which could indicate repeated or higher initial exposure to the virus, the authors suggest. The decline was largest in people aged 75 and above compared to younger people, indicating that the antibody response varies by age and with the severity of illness.
Exactly what this means is not entirely clear. Antibodies are only one element of the immune system. Lymphocytes, such as T-cells that kill infected host cells, are known to have memory and might offer protection. However, the researchers pointed out that antibody levels tend to be highly predictive of overall immunity.
At the same time, there have been very few reported cases of people getting infected more than once. But this could be due to antibodies only just starting to fade after the peak of the first wave in April.
In addition, it is unclear what this study’s results mean for vaccines. Vaccine induced immunity can differ from natural immunity, so room for hope remains on vaccines lending a hand in stemming the disease at some point.
You Might Also Like
Coronavirus: Swiss government makes masks compulsory on public transport
On 1 July 2020, Switzerland’s federal government announced that it would become compulsory to wear masks on public transport from 6 July 2020. Due to the the growing number of people using public transport and a rise in the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 since mid-June, the Federal Council has decided to make it compulsory for those taking public transport to wear a mask.
Switzerland adds 11 more nations to its compulsory quarantine list
From 20 August 2020, people entering Switzerland from Andorra, Belgium, Monaco and 50 other nations must quarantine for 10 days. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) recently added 11 places to its existing list of regions where there is an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Fribourg hospital under pressure after Covid-19 outbreak
According to RTS, a branch of the HFR hospital in the Swiss canton of Fribourg has reached full capacity after a rise in Covid-19 patients following an outbreak in a local nursing home.
Switzerland adds 10 more nations to its compulsory quarantine list
On 7 September 2020, Switzerland added to its list of quarantine countries. People entering Switzerland from 55 nations must now quarantine for 10 days. On 7 September 2020, 10 nations were added to the list. These include Croatia, French Polynesia, Guyana, Lebanon, Libya, Paraguay, San Marino, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates.
Coronavirus: Switzerland seems to be fending off potential second wave
The number of recorded Covid-19 cases in Switzerland has declined over the last 12 days. Over the most recent 14 days, the number of recorded cases per 100,000 in Switzerland was 59, below the figure of 60 used by the Swiss health authorities to define a region as high risk.
Coronavirus: more than 4,000 new cases over 3 days in Switzerland
On 12 October 2020, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) reported 4,068 new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection over 72 hours. The latest 3-day infection figure is 2.6 times the number over the same period a week ago.
Coronavirus: contact tracers now unable to cope in parts of Switzerland
In parts of Switzerland contact tracers can no longer cope with the rising numbers of cases, according the newspaper SonntagsZeitung. Contact tracers have the task of identifying who has been in contact with people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, contacting those people and requesting they test and self isolate in order to break chains of infection.
Coronavirus: Germany adds Switzerland to risk list
Today, Germany announced it had added Switzerland to its list of Covid-19 risk countries, effective from 24 October 2020. Until now only certain Swiss cantons were on Germany’s list.
Tags: Covid-19 Switzerland,Editor's Choice,Featured,Health,newsletter,SARS-CoV-2 Switzerland