On Thursday, March 4, Vladislav Zhemchugov, a specialist in especially dangerous infections, commented on information about cases of "eternal" infection with coronavirus infection. This was reported by American doctors. They recorded a long course of the disease in three patients with leukemia.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Zhemchugov noted that such an oncological disease primarily violates immunity, since leukemia is provoked, among other things, by various viruses (for example, influenza).
The immunologist emphasized that in such cases it is necessary to pay attention to whether the patient underwent chemotherapy, as it suppresses the immune system. It is also important to know if a bone marrow transplant is taking place. "In this situation, of course, it is possible that the virus acquires some other course," the doctor said. In his opinion, these circumstances do not allow to avoid the long course of COVID-19.
He noted that people with cancer need to be vaccinated against coronavirus at a time when the harm from treatment is minimal. This must be decided together with the attending physician.
Recall that a long course of COVID-19 was recorded in three patients with leukemia in the United States. According to medRxiv, they had traces of the coronavirus for more than six months. The researchers stressed that people with weak immune systems are "extremely vulnerable to coronavirus infection."
