Covid-19: Extensive study of outbreaks in Spain finds most people did not develop immunity

• According to a national survey, only 5% of the Spanish population had coronavirus antibodies
• This means that the current pandemic does not seem to achieve herd immunity
• About one third of participants were found to be asymptomatic

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You’ve probably heard the word’herd immunity’ cast in the pros and cons of the Pandemic Lockdown.

The idea is that if enough people get infected and recover from the coronavirus, they will develop antibodies against it and prevent the virus from spreading to nonimmunized people.

But a large national survey from Spain, which was hit hard during the early stages of the global outbreak, may have completely derailed this debate with the latest findings.

read: Antibodies may persist for only a few months after recovering from coronavirus

Low antibody prevalence

Published in Lancet Commissioned by the Spanish Ministry of Health and Carlos III Institute, between April and May, just after the country peaked, only 61,000 people, of approximately 36,000 households, were tested for antibodies.

Only 5% of them were positive for Covid-19 on average, compared to around 10% in hotspot areas like Madrid. Seropositivity was low in coastal states.

About 60% of the immunity is required to achieve herd immunity.

Participants completed a history of Covid-19-like symptoms and risk factors history, underwent a point-of-care antibody test, and, if agreed, donated blood samples for additional testing.

Also read: Covid-19 antibody test: is it reliable enough to manage pandemics in the future?

Other survey results

In 7 273 individuals with anosmia or at least 3 other symptoms, only 15.3-19.3% had antibodies, and about one-third of seropositive participants were asymptomatic.

Children were also less likely to have coronavirus antibodies, with evidence of how age affects infectivity.

“Even though Spain has a large impact of Covid-19, the prevalence estimates are [of antibodies] It remains low and apparently insufficient to provide herd immunity,” the scientists write.

“Currently, collective immunity is difficult to achieve without accepting the collateral damage of many deaths in susceptible people and without straining the health system.”

Previous Chinese studies showed similar results, Patients retained the antibody for only a few months after recovery, and asymptomatic patients appeared to have less antibody.

However, note that this study focuses only on immunoglobulin-type antibodies, and cellular immunity may play a role in protection from future infections and thus needs further investigation. please.

read: Covid’s “Immune Passport”: Ready for Golden Time?

^{Image credit: Pexels}

Edited by Gabi Zietsman

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