Some people had antibodies to COVID-19 before the pandemic: how doctors explain it
'28.11.2020'
Source: Yellmed
British scientists have discovered covid antibodies in blood samples from people tested before the pandemic. This means that some have developed immunity to the new virus long before the appearance of SARS-CoV-2, says Yellmed.
Researchers believe that such protection is explained by the body's reaction as a whole to coronaviruses, because many of them have existed for a long time, writes MedicalNewsToday.
For example, if a person was previously exposed to another coronavirus, similar to SARS-CoV-2, and he had a common cold, then a persistent immunity to other human coronaviruses could form.
There are currently four main human coronaviruses that are active during the cold season. And the absolute majority of the world's population has at least once been infected with one of them. Immunity after such colds is temporary, but it helps some people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Scientists have determined the levels of cross-reacting antibodies in 50 blood samples donated from May 2018 to the advent of SARS-CoV-2 in the world. Cross-reactive antibodies were found in 10% of them. Then the experts made a wider sample and came up with the result: 16 out of 302 samples. That is, 5,29% are protected in advance from the new coronavirus.
On the subject: How to tell a cold from a mild COVID-19
An important observation: children are most likely to have cross-reactive antibodies, as they are more likely to get colds caused by coronaviruses.
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