Case of COVID-19 survivor who got sick again puzzles PGH

The case of the doctor who recovered from COVID-19 only to get the virus again is a puzzle to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Thursday, Dr. Jonas del Rosario, PGH spokesperson, said they suspect Dr. Karen Abat-Senen's sickness was a "continuation" of her previous bout with the virus.

"Ang tingin po namin ay continuation lang ito ng sakit niya, parang medyo gumaling lang siya," Del Rosario said. "Hindi kasi namin ma-establish bakit naman siya mare-reinfect eh iilang araw pa lang at nasa bahay naman siya."

Del Rosario said they are also considering the possibility that the doctor had a hospital-acquired pneumonia.

"Minsan, pag mababa na ang iyong immune system, 'yung virus na nagpapababa ng iyong immune system, puwede kang dapuan ng bacterial infection," he said.

Abat-Senen is currently being treated as a severe COVID-19 case.

Del Rosario quoted Abat-Senen as saying that the difference in  her previous condition from the current one was "night and day" when she was treated using convalescent plasma.

"Kaya nga nagulat kami, akala namin tuloy-tuloy na [yung recovery]," he said.

Del Rosario mentioned the doctor also has a complicating condition of asthma.

Abat-Senen is now being intubated and was again given convalescent plasma.

On July 3, Abat-Senen went home after a month of confinement at the PGH. She even posted a video of herself singing as she could not hide her joy of her victory from the virus.

However, a few days later, the doctor experienced worse symptoms.

"Ang big unknown po ay ganito: Magkakaroon ba ng COVID ang tao na nagka-COVID na? Hindi pa po masyadong klaro 'yan. Dahil po ang mga antibodies na napo-produce ng mga tao na naka-recover, kaya nga tayo nakakapag-donate ng plasma, hindi pa rin po alam kung gaano katagal ito nasa sistema mo," Del Rosario said. —KBK, GMA News