Scientists from South Africa have discovered 21 mutations of the coronavirus in a woman infected with HIV since birth and who contracted COVID-19 last year. This is stated in a study published by the Social Science Research Network.

According to scientists, such a large number of mutations in a woman's body has accumulated in just 9 months. She received a positive test for coronavirus in January 2021, and was hospitalized in September. As the doctors established, all this time she was ill with COVID-19. During this period, the woman had problems adhering to her HIV treatment regimen. Therapy was resumed only after hospitalization.

According to experts, antiretroviral therapy, which was used against HIV, helped her recover from COVID-19.

As noted, this case confirms that HIV infection can lead to the chronic course of COVID-19, the accumulation of mutations, some of which can elude the body's immune response, which in turn can lead to the emergence of new variants of coronavirus.

bbabo.Net