An urgent warning has been issued to anyone who has contracted coronavirus once, as data suggests getting the virus a second time could put you at risk of it being deadly.
Washington University School of Medicine researchers found repeat infections result in added health risks. Birmingham Live reports that those infected a second time are twice as likely to die.
Senior author Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at the School of Medicine said: "Our research showed that getting an infection a second, third or fourth time contributes to additional health risks in the acute phase, meaning the first 30 days after infection, and in the months beyond, meaning the long Covid phase.”
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Reinfections of Covid mean that sufferers are three times more likely to have lung issues, suffer heart defects, and 1.6 times more likely to experience brain fog. The study analysed both Delta and Omicron patients.
Dr Al-Aly said: "Reinfection with COVID-19 increases the risk of both acute outcomes and long COVID. This was evident in unvaccinated, vaccinated and boosted people.
"Even if one had prior infection and was vaccinated - meaning they had double immunity from prior infection plus vaccines - they are still susceptible to adverse outcomes upon reinfection.
"We had started seeing a lot of patients coming to the clinic with an air of invincibility. They wondered, 'Does getting a reinfection really matter?' The answer is yes, it absolutely does."
The study leader added: "We're not advising draconian measures, but maybe if you're going on a plane, wear a mask.
"If you're in a supermarket, consider that the person near you may have a weak immune system, and if you wear a mask you might help to protect them."
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