KUALA LUMPUR – Public health experts have reminded the public to stay vigilant in preventing the spread of Covid-19, even for those who have recently been infected in the past days or weeks.
They said the commonly cited three-month window of immunity may not universally apply, as some individuals could experience reinfection within a shorter time frame.
Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, a public health physician, has explained that while the majority of individuals do not face reinfection within three months after recovering from Covid-19, some cases do occur.
“Once you have had Covid-19, your immune system responds in several ways. This immune response can protect you against reinfection for several months, but this protection decreases over time,” he told Scoop yesterday.
“People with weakened immune systems may have a limited or non-existent immune response.”
Weekly provided data from the Health Ministry’s GitHub portal KKMNow showed there were 2,465 Covid-19 cases on January 6, showing a slightly downward trend, including hospital admissions and patients in the ICU.
On December 29, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad assured the public that the nation’s Covid-19 situation remained under control.
Most reported cases involve mild symptoms and do not require hospital treatment.
However, countries such as Australia have warned of another Covid-19 wave driven by a new variant called JN.1, according to ABC News.
Dr Zainal said reinfection could be influenced by factors such as new or stronger Covid-19 variants or insufficient immunity levels from previous infections.
Meanwhile, Prof Sazaly Abu Bakar, a virology expert at Universiti Malaya, refutes claims that individuals who have had Covid-19 cannot be reinfected within a short period.
He said that reinfection was highly possible but may result in lower severity.
Sazaly noted that the new Covid-19 variants were highly transmissible but less deadly.
In response to cases where individuals with symptoms initially test negative but later test positive, he recommends daily Covid-19 testing.
Sazaly also suggested using the more sensitive nasal swab tests instead of the saliva test.
To encourage regular testing, especially among high-risk individuals, he urges companies producing antigen rapid test kits to sell them in bundles of five.
Health economics and public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh points out that positive results may only appear during the incubation period.
She advises those exposed to Covid-19-positive individuals to check themselves promptly to prevent further spread. – January 11, 2024