Asymptomatic coronavirus sufferers have a weaker immune response to the virus and shed the disease for up to five days longer than symptomatic cases, a study has revealed. Edinburgh University's professor of infectious disease, Eleanor Riley, who was not involved in the study, said the results showed asymptomatic infections lead to 'a less robust antibody response to SARS-CoV-2'. Of the 37 asymptomatic cases, 22 of them were women and 15 were men aged between eight and 75 years old. 'Therefore, the proportion of asymptomatic infections needs to be determined through population screening.' 'The data are in line with several recently reported studies suggesting that those with mild or asymptomatic infections make a less robust antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 than those with more severe disease,' she said.

Source: Daily Mail June 18, 2020 14:10 UTC