THRISSUR: In perhaps the first reported Covid-19 reinfection in the state, Palavelil Savio Joseph (38) of Ponnukkara here has tested positive for the virus thrice in the past six months — that too in RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) tests. The health department has launched an in-depth analysis of the case.
Savio was working as a service supervisor with an event management firm in Oman when he was infected first.
“I tested positive in March after I got infected from a colleague who visited China. I was admitted to a private hospital in Muscat with complaints of chest pain and breathing difficulty. I was discharged after a week,” he said.
He returned to the state in June with the pandemic situation worsening in Oman. In July, he tested positive for the virus again. He was admitted to Thrissur medical college Hospital on July 22 and discharged on August 11. However, he tested positive again after two weeks. He was readmitted to the hospital on September 5 and discharged on September 11 based on a negative antigen test.
Healthcare experts, however, dismissed chances of a reinfection. “It could be a case of false positive or viral litter and it might not be infectious. We need a detailed analysis,” said Dr B Ekbal who heads the state-level experts’ committee.
Health secretary Rajan N Khobragade said the department has decided to go in for an in-depth analysis as such an incident has not been reported anywhere so far. Thrissur district medical officer Dr K J Reena also refused to confirm a repeated virus infection. “Also, we don’t know the youth’s infection details in the Gulf. In some cases, the presence of virus is shown in RTPCR tests for over four months,” she said.
Savio said he had been suffering breathing difficulty ever since he was infected first. “I need to undergo a shoulder surgery and for that I need an RT-PCR negative certificate. Also, I will need an internationally recognised Covid-19 certificate to go abroad for a job,” he said. Dr Sajith Kumar, department of infectious diseases, Kottayam medical college, said there is no 100% accuracy in Covid-19 negative certificates. “However, there is no chance of a repeated virus infection. He should conduct an RT-PCR test and move on,” he said.
Dr Reena said they needed a state government directive to conduct an antibody test in Savio. A health official, meanwhile, said they had recommended an antibody test after the youth tested positive for the virus twice but higher officials turned down the request. ICMR guidelines clearly state that all symptomatic Covid suspects who test antigen negative need to be retested using RT-PCR.
The repeated infections have, meanwhile, affected Savio’s family and social life. “My wife gave birth to twin daughters in Kozhikode in April but I haven’t visited them so far. I’m leading an isolated life,” he said.
Savio was working as a service supervisor with an event management firm in Oman when he was infected first.
“I tested positive in March after I got infected from a colleague who visited China. I was admitted to a private hospital in Muscat with complaints of chest pain and breathing difficulty. I was discharged after a week,” he said.
He returned to the state in June with the pandemic situation worsening in Oman. In July, he tested positive for the virus again. He was admitted to Thrissur medical college Hospital on July 22 and discharged on August 11. However, he tested positive again after two weeks. He was readmitted to the hospital on September 5 and discharged on September 11 based on a negative antigen test.
Healthcare experts, however, dismissed chances of a reinfection. “It could be a case of false positive or viral litter and it might not be infectious. We need a detailed analysis,” said Dr B Ekbal who heads the state-level experts’ committee.
Health secretary Rajan N Khobragade said the department has decided to go in for an in-depth analysis as such an incident has not been reported anywhere so far. Thrissur district medical officer Dr K J Reena also refused to confirm a repeated virus infection. “Also, we don’t know the youth’s infection details in the Gulf. In some cases, the presence of virus is shown in RTPCR tests for over four months,” she said.
Savio said he had been suffering breathing difficulty ever since he was infected first. “I need to undergo a shoulder surgery and for that I need an RT-PCR negative certificate. Also, I will need an internationally recognised Covid-19 certificate to go abroad for a job,” he said. Dr Sajith Kumar, department of infectious diseases, Kottayam medical college, said there is no 100% accuracy in Covid-19 negative certificates. “However, there is no chance of a repeated virus infection. He should conduct an RT-PCR test and move on,” he said.
Dr Reena said they needed a state government directive to conduct an antibody test in Savio. A health official, meanwhile, said they had recommended an antibody test after the youth tested positive for the virus twice but higher officials turned down the request. ICMR guidelines clearly state that all symptomatic Covid suspects who test antigen negative need to be retested using RT-PCR.
The repeated infections have, meanwhile, affected Savio’s family and social life. “My wife gave birth to twin daughters in Kozhikode in April but I haven’t visited them so far. I’m leading an isolated life,” he said.
More News
‘Flop pair of do ladkon ki jodi’: PM Modi takes dig at alliance of Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav in UP | India News – Times of India
Kalpana Soren To Contest Gandey Assembly By-Poll In Jharkhand; Fuels Speculation Of Becoming CM
MEA rejects US report on human rights abuse in India, calls it ‘deeply biased’ | India News – Times of India