First COVID-19 reinfection in Brazil confirmed

Brazil’s Ministry of Health today (Dec. 10) confirmed the first reinfection case of COVID-19 in the country. She is a 37-year-old health agent living in Natal, state capital of Rio Grande do Norte, in the Northeast.

The patient had the disease in June, was cured, and tested positive again in October 116 after her first diagnosis.

In a note, the ministry says it received a report from the Laboratory for Respiratory Viruses and Measles of Fiocruz/RJ—famous countrywide in tackling COVID-19 in Brazil—with lab results on two clinical samples of a then suspected case of reinfection with the coronavirus.

After the samples were analyzed, the results were confirmed through RT-PCR in real time.

“The analysis conducted allows us to confirm reinfection with Sars-CoV-2 after a full viral genome sequencing, which identified two different strains,” the note reads.

The ministry also said the result underscores the need for the adoption of the continuous use of masks, keeping one’s hands clean at all times, and using hand sanitizer.