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DrToast

(6,414 posts)
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:19 PM Mar 2020

The big question over Coronavirus - can a person get it twice?

There's been a lot of confusion over this and while we don't have a definitive answer, experts believe there will be immunity after recovery.

One of the most concerning issues since the emergence of the Covid-19 virus has been whether those who have had it can get it a second time – and what that means for immunity.

On Monday, both Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, and Prof Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson’s chief medical adviser, sought to reassure the public. Those who have had the virus once will develop some immunity, they said – and it is rare to get an infectious disease again.

(more at link)


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/the-big-question-over-coronavirus-can-a-person-get-it-twice
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The big question over Coronavirus - can a person get it twice? (Original Post) DrToast Mar 2020 OP
In millions of trials, yes, sure, there are always outliers jberryhill Mar 2020 #1
Agree. Everything we know suggests there will be immunity DrToast Mar 2020 #2
It has already happened more than once, that we know of. PubliusEnigma Mar 2020 #3
Read the article. That's covered DrToast Mar 2020 #4
Since most people haven't gotten it once yet, why is this of such... TreasonousBastard Mar 2020 #5
A person in Japan Bev54 Mar 2020 #6
Are they immunocompromised in some way? Jedi Guy Mar 2020 #7
I am not sure if compromised Bev54 Mar 2020 #8
we gain immunity BGBD Mar 2020 #9
I don't think Bev54 Mar 2020 #10
No, but the fact that most others who recover don't get it again is certainly suggestive. Jedi Guy Mar 2020 #11
Well it has not been around that long Bev54 Mar 2020 #12
No .. at least not for 5 years and perhaps longer NCProgressive Mar 2020 #13
 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
1. In millions of trials, yes, sure, there are always outliers
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:23 PM
Mar 2020

One thing to avoid is freaking out over stuff like “there are two reported cars where..” whatever.

When something happens a couple million times, then there are a couple “one in a million” occurrences.

So, sure, if one in ten thousand people could get it twice, then it has happened quite a few times already.

“Rare” means “rare”. In a large number of trials, it also means “certain to occur”.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DrToast

(6,414 posts)
2. Agree. Everything we know suggests there will be immunity
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:25 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

PubliusEnigma

(1,583 posts)
3. It has already happened more than once, that we know of.
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:28 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

DrToast

(6,414 posts)
4. Read the article. That's covered
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:34 PM
Mar 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
5. Since most people haven't gotten it once yet, why is this of such...
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:37 PM
Mar 2020

immediate concern?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Bev54

(11,917 posts)
6. A person in Japan
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:45 PM
Mar 2020

just got it for the second time.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Jedi Guy

(3,308 posts)
7. Are they immunocompromised in some way?
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 06:52 PM
Mar 2020

If not, then it may be that there are different strains floating around out there that, while similar in symptoms, are different enough that the body's immune response doesn't recognize it as something that's been encountered before.

I'd say it's more likely that it's just a statistical outlier, though. As someone upthread pointed out, given enough occurrences, X is bound to happen. In the case of most pathogens, once you fight it off, you have immunity thereafter.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Bev54

(11,917 posts)
8. I am not sure if compromised
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 08:04 PM
Mar 2020

It was just reported that they were surprised that he got it for a second time.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BGBD

(3,282 posts)
9. we gain immunity
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 08:29 PM
Mar 2020

after infection from other coronavirus'. This should be no different. But that's on average, there will be cases where an individuals immune system just doesn't, atleasg on the first go.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Bev54

(11,917 posts)
10. I don't think
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 08:35 PM
Mar 2020

we should count on it at this time, until we know for sure, right now they are not sure of anything.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Jedi Guy

(3,308 posts)
11. No, but the fact that most others who recover don't get it again is certainly suggestive.
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 08:47 PM
Mar 2020

I wouldn't read too much into this one guy getting it twice, or even a small number of people getting it twice.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Bev54

(11,917 posts)
12. Well it has not been around that long
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 09:01 PM
Mar 2020

so you can take that chance but I am not yet willing to.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NCProgressive

(1,315 posts)
13. No .. at least not for 5 years and perhaps longer
Mon Mar 16, 2020, 10:29 PM
Mar 2020

The immune system has "memory" and the next time it encounters the pathogen, it activates immediately, putting out antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

This is how vaccines work.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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