As France's first two COVID-19 patients recover and leave the hospital, an Institut Pasteur researcher explains the key role of our immune system in eliminating the virus. Globally, nearly 7,000 people have recovered.
On the afternoon of February 12, 2020, the Chinese couple in their thirties—travelers in Paris since January 18—were released from Bichat Hospital. In a France Info article published January 13, Frédéric Tangy, professor and director of the Vaccine Innovation Laboratory at Institut Pasteur, discussed these two remission cases and the recovery process.
The patients received only supportive care for symptoms like fever. They underwent diagnostic tests twice, 24 hours apart, to check for the virus in secretions. Once symptoms resolved and both tests were negative, they were discharged.
Treatment was straightforward: paracetamol for fever and respiratory support if needed. In truth, our immune system eliminates the virus. Frédéric Tangy describes this as "viral clearance," the body's natural response evicting the virus.
Coronavirus infections are typically acute and short-lived, unlike chronic ones. For COVID-19, infections may last longer. The standard incubation is 1-10 days, but a Chinese study notes a maximum of 24 days.
Tangy's team is developing a COVID-19 vaccine. Even with natural recoveries, vaccines are essential: they prevent viral spread, eliminating the need for quarantines.
A vaccine would bolster responses if measures like China's fall short and enable faster action in future outbreaks.
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