Scientists have been shocked to learn that a woman was shedding infectious coronavirus particles for a full 70 days after initial diagnosis. The study was published earlier this month in the scientific journal Cell.
Previously, experts had believed that those who were severely ill with the virus to the point of hospitalization only shed the COVID-19 virus for up to 20 days after receiving their positive results. However, in this case, the woman continued to shed its genetic material for months afterwards, despite not showing any symptoms.
However, what does make her case unusual was that she suffered from leukemia. As a result, researchers have hypothesized that individuals with weakened immune systems, such as cancer or HIV/AIDs patients, can shed the virus for incredibly long periods of time despite appearing unaffected.
In the United States alone, an estimated three million people currently suffer from some type of condition that affects their immune system — making it possible that large portions of the population could be secret carriers.
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