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Business News/ News / World/  COVID-19 may reach human brain and stay for almost 8 months, new study shows
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COVID-19 may reach human brain and stay for almost 8 months, new study shows

According to the analysis, SARS-CoV-2 largely infected and harmed lung and airway tissue.

The Omicron variant was a version of Covid-19 that was so far removed from its predecessors that several assumptions about the virus became redundant in 2022. (AFP/Imaging by Malay Karmakar) (HT_PRINT)Premium
The Omicron variant was a version of Covid-19 that was so far removed from its predecessors that several assumptions about the virus became redundant in 2022. (AFP/Imaging by Malay Karmakar) (HT_PRINT)

The SAR-CoV-2 virus propagated throughout the body, including into the brain, and persisted for almost eight months, according to a study of tissue samples from 44 COVID-19 fatality autopsies. None of the patients were immunised, and they all passed away from COVID-19. 38 patients' blood plasma tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, three patients' blood plasma tested negative, and three patients' blood plasma was unavailable.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US evaluated samples taken from autopsy carried out between April 2020 and March 2021. In 11 of the patients, they thoroughly sampled the neurological system, including the brain. The study was published in Nature.

Also Read: ‘This is just the start’, says Covid expert as medicines run out of stores

The median age was 62.5 years, and 30% of the patients were female. Three or more comorbidities were present in 27 individuals (61.4%). The median number of days between the onset of symptoms and mortality was 18.5. Virus replication was seen during the first two weeks after the onset of symptoms in a number of non-respiratory sites, as per the authors.

In addition, the researchers were able to isolate live SARS-CoV-2 virus from a variety of organs both inside and outside the respiratory system, such as the adrenal gland, eye, brain, heart, lymph nodes, and digestive tract. 25 out of the 55 tested specimens (45%) had the virus isolated.

Also Read: China’s actual Covid numbers may be much higher than what’s reported

According to the analysis, SARS-CoV-2 largely infected and harmed lung and airway tissue. In addition, the researchers discovered viral RNA in 84 different body fluids and sites, and in one instance they identified viral RNA 230 days after a patient's symptoms started.

In the hypothalamus and cerebellum of one patient, the spinal cord, and the basal ganglia of two more patients, the researchers found SARS-CoV-2 RNA and protein. However, they discovered minimal harm to brain tissue "despite significant viral burden".

Also Read: China's youth jobless rate reaches new highs, thanks to Covid

India earlier announced that starting on January 1, all visitors from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand will be required to undergo a PCR test. In the United States, up to 40.5% of new infections are caused by the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sounak Mukhopadhyay
Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and sports. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer.
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Published: 01 Jan 2023, 09:29 AM IST
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