https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/mutant-of-delta-variant-blamed-for-nevada-mans-rapid-reinfection-2455634/ -

Updated October 8, 2021 - 1:51 pm

The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory has identified a rare case of COVID-19 reinfection occurring just 22 days after the original infection.

The patient, an unvaccinated 31-year-old Mineral County man with no underlying health conditions, first tested positive for the delta variant and then, three weeks later, for a delta variant mutant, Mark Pandori, director of the lab at the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine, told the Review-Journal this week.

Infection from COVID-19 typically results in immunity from reinfection for a minimum of several months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such rapid reinfection, especially in a young and healthy individual, could mean that the virus has mutated to a degree that makes it more resistant than previously seen to the protection afforded by past infection or from vaccination.

The sublineage, AY.26, has 31 genetic differences from delta, including on the spike protein, the part of the virus targeted by vaccines, he said. It is this genetic variety that especially concerns him.

The individual, after having tested positive on Aug. 16 and recovering, again tested positive on Sept. 7 using a rapid test, which typically picks up only high viral loads and active infections. The results were confirmed through a more sensitive PCR test. The man’s symptoms were more severe the second time around.

The state lab then compared genetic samples from the tests in August and September, determining that they were different strains and separate infections.