Covid had mutated 50 times in his body: death of a 72-year-old man after 613 days of infection and several vaccines

A 72-year-old man died after being infected with Covid for 613 days. Around fifty mutations were detected in the body of this Dutchman suffering from a blood disease.

He had Covid continuously for 613 days. Last October, a Dutch man died from a long infection. Added to this was a pre-existing blood disease, reports the Time. Researchers reveal this rare case and explain that 50 mutations of the virus were detected in his body.

A Covid infection record

According to the University of Amsterdam, this case is a record in terms of long Covid. The patient's ordeal began in February 2022, when he was infected with the virus. At the time, a "back to normal"of the health situation was announced in the Netherlands, the epidemic seemed to have defused, explained the AFP.

But for this man, it’s the start of twenty months of infection. He already suffers from a blood disease, which makes his immune system particularly fragile. During the 613 days of treatment, he will receive several doses of vaccine, but it will resume several times, in particular with the Omicron variant.

Monitor immunocompromised people

The Dutch septuagenarian is not capable of developing a strong enough immune response and the virus modifies several times. In total, 50 mutations of the virus will be identified. He also develops resistance to sotrovimab, an antibody treatment.

According to our colleagues, this case "underlines the risk of persistent infections by SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised people"< /em>.