Double infection with two variants of coronavirus - is it possible?

In Denmark, the more infectious variant of the Omicron coronavirus known as BA.2 quickly dethroned the "original" BA.1 variant, which is the most common in the world. The question is, can one person become infected with both variants?

A new study, led by scientists at Denmark's leading infectious disease organization Statens Serum Institut (SSI), shows that people infected with BA.1 can become infected with BA.2 very soon, but this is rare.

BA.1 and BA.2 differ by up to 40 mutations. While BA.2 accounts for over 88 percent. cases in Denmark, the number began to increase in Great Britain, South Africa and Norway.

The researchers point out that reinfection mainly affected young, unvaccinated people and caused only mild illness, neither of which led to hospitalization or death. The study, which has not yet been reviewed, found 1,739 cases recorded between November 21, 2021 and February 11 this year, in which patients tested positive for COVID-19 twice (over a 20 to 60 day time frame). More than 1.8 million infections were registered in Denmark during this period.

In a smaller group of samples, the study found 47 cases of BA.2 reinfection shortly after BA.1 infection. The researchers also detected less viral material with the second infection, suggesting some immunity was developed after the first infection.

Source: Reuters