Record Holder: 72-Year-Old Dies After Battling Covid for 613 Days, Virus Mutated Over 50 Times

A man from the Netherlands succumbed to an underlying illness after battling coronavirus for a record 613 days, during which the virus mutated repeatedly, evolving into a new variant, according to a report from Time magazine based on research from the University of Amsterdam. This 72-year-old patient experienced the longest known infection with the virus, highlighting a rare medical case.

Initially infected with the omicron variant of COVID-19 in February 2022, which the World Health Organization once classified as a “variant of concern,” the patient struggled with a blood disorder and had a compromised immune response despite receiving several COVID-19 vaccinations.

Researchers analyzed numerous specimens taken from the patient’s nose and throat swabs over the course of his illness. They found that the virus quickly developed resistance to sotrovimab, a COVID-19 antibody treatment. Over time, the virus in his body accumulated more than 50 mutations, some of which significantly enhanced its ability to evade the immune system.

The University of Amsterdam’s Centre for Experimental and Molecular Medicine researchers noted that this case highlights the dangers of prolonged COVID-19 infections in individuals with weakened immune systems. They stressed the importance of continued genomic monitoring of the virus, particularly in immunocompromised patients who have ongoing infections.

In related research, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies on STIs and AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT) found that HIV-positive individuals who contract COVID-19 are at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in the year following their infection.