Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), led by its Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (NSPHL) are studying a likely case of COVID-19 reinfection.

Forty-eight days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020 and after testing negative consecutively twice, a Washoe County, Nevada patient tested positive again, in June.

The patient had tested negative on two separate occasions in the interim. The genomes of the patient’s virus samples were sequenced in April and June, displaying significant genetic discordance between the two cases, implying the patient was infected twice.

“We examined the genomic material of the viruses and samples to investigate this, says NSPHL Director Mark Pandori. “It is just one finding, but it shows that a person can possibly become infected with SARS-CoV-2 a second time.”

To solidify confidence in the case, Pandori and the research team partnered with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Biology Unit to conduct identity testing on the specimens and lab samples evaluated in the study to verify the specimens were from the same person.

Embedded in the genomic material of SARS-CoV-2 is a detailed code that Pandori says may provide insight to a
better understanding of this virus.

“A virus has a biological genome like all living things. Since March, the NSPHL has analyzed the genomic RNA of approximately 200 positive COVID-19 samples from Nevadans who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said Pandori. “The power of genomic information could turn the tables in the fight against the coronavirus.” The information is shared to a world-wide database known as “GISAID”,” alongside the work of thousands of researchers.

According to Pandori and the NSPHL-led research team, reinfection cases are a potential warning sign that it is possible to catch COVID-19 more than once, and with unpredictable severity.

“If reinfection is possible on such a short timeline, there may be implications for the efficacy of vaccines developed to fight the disease. It may also have implications for herd immunity,” says Pandori. “It is important to note, that this is a singular finding. It does not provide any information to us with regard to the generalizability of this phenomenon.”

Herd immunity depends on the theory that after natural infection, our immune systems will collectively protect us as a community from reinfection and further spread. There are currently many more unknowns than knowns about immune responses to COVID-19. “After one recover from COVID-19, we still do not know how much immunity is built up, how long it may last, or how well antibodies play a role in protection against reinfection,” says Pandori.”

While research and scientific advancements continue to build, Pandori says the hard work of fighting this pandemic together will continue through the use of facial coverings, hand-washing, social distancing, as well as wide-scale testing, contact tracing, and isolation of new cases.

“This is a novel disease. We still have a steep learning curve ahead and lots of work to do, especially as inconvenient truths arise,” says Pandori.

The NSPHL team are publishing their COVID-19 reinfection findings. Their report is publicly accessible on the SSRN preprint server, at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3681489.

This story was first reported by KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada 18-year-old is in a fight for her life after suffering an extremely rare and severe case of blood clots after receiving Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, according to family friends.

Family friends have identified 18-year-old Emma Burkey as one of the six cases of clotting in the U.S. that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating in connection with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“She started having seizures, then they took her to the hospital, and then they realized she had blood clots in the brain,” said Bret Johnson, a family friend who says he is in constant contact with Burkey's parents.

Luckily, Burkey's condition is improving.

“She’s starting to realize what has happened to her, where she is, slowly,” Johnson said.

Things weren’t always as promising.

“For a while there, her situation and condition was completely unknown. Very scary and very iffy, honestly,” Johnson said.

Burkey was first treated at St. Rose Hospital in Henderson, Nevada, where she was in an induced coma and on a ventilator.

Later, she was airlifted to Loma Linda Hospital in Southern California where she remains with her family.

The FDA and the CDC recommended a pause in the use of the vaccine last week after confirming six cases of a rare but severe blood clot disorder that happened after the patients had the shot. About 7 million people in the U.S. had safely received a dose of the J&J vaccine prior to the pause.

So far, the clotting had only presented in patients that suffered from thrombocytopenia — low levels of blood platelets — and those who had histories of blood clotting issues.

“This situation really rocked us to the core,” said Heiden Ratner, another family friend.

Ratner is the senior pastor at WALK Church, where Burkey is in the kid's ministry. Ratner says Burkey has also babysat his family's children.

“We were challenged, we were confused, and it drove us to prayer,” Ratner said.

The community has launched a GoFundMe for the Burkey family which surpassed its $10,000 goal in just four days.

This story was originally published by Austin Carter on KTNV in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- CNN's Anderson Cooper spoke to Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman on Wednesday and

the interview is going viral.

Goodman has been an adamant proponent of reopening the city, even calling the shutdowns

"total insanity."

During Wednesday's interview on CNN, Goodman said she is willing to offer the city as a "control group" if Las Vegas is allowed to reopen.

Goodman also told Cooper that with no cure or vaccine, the shutdown could go on for months or maybe even a year.

The interview quickly began trending on social media, with almost everyone appearing to react negatively. Late-night television host and former Las Vegas resident Jimmy Kimmel called Goodman an "embarrassment to my hometown."

The

@mayoroflasvegas

Carolyn Goodman should resign before lunch arrives today. She is an embarrassment to my hometown.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)

April 22, 2020

Dear Las

@Vegas

. It would appear that your

@mayoroflasvegas

Carolyn Goodman is dangerously misguided. I am not easily shocked anymore, but the interview she is doing with

@andersoncooper

@cnn

right now is bonkers.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel)

April 22, 2020

Goodman also told Cooper that additional testing, contact tracing and personal protective equipment is needed before reopening. When Cooper asked her what she was doing as the mayor to help with those efforts, she responded that it was not her responsibility.

Goodman also said that it is up to the businesses in Las Vegas to figure out social distancing. She said that her days were full, trying to help people get back to work.

Additionally, Goodman said she believes she contracted the virus in January and she hopes to donate her plasma to help those who are currently battling the virus. She did not give any other details.

Las Vegas has been hit especially hard by the governor's orders to close casinos and nonessential businesses. More than 300,000 people are currently unemployed and the unemployment overwhelmed with the vast number of people applying for benefits.

Although Goodman is mayor of the City of Las Vegas, most of the hotel-casinos in the Las Vegas area are actually located in Clark County.

This story was originally published by Joyce Lupiani at KTNV.