Although persistent infections are rare, experts said there are many people with compromised immune systems who remain at risk of severe COVID-19. FOX13
Their study investigated which mutations arise — and whether variants evolve — in people with super long infections. It involved nine patients who tested positive for the virus for at least eight weeks. All had weakened immune systems from organ transplants, HIV, cancer or treatment for other illnesses. None were identified for privacy reasons.
The mutations were similar to the ones that later showed up in widespread variants, Snell said, although none of the patients spawned new mutants that became variants of concern. There's also no evidence they spread the virus to others.and died sometime in 2021. Researchers declined to name the cause of death and said the person had several other illnesses.Five patients survived. Two cleared the infection without treatment, two cleared it after treatment and one still has COVID-19.
"We do need to be mindful that there are some people who are more susceptible to these problems like persistent infection and severe disease," Snell said.