Despite the widespread emergence of COVID-19 variants around the world, thousands of people have not contracted the virus. This phenomenon has sparked curiosity, especially since some individuals, despite receiving two vaccine doses and even booster shots, have been infected. According to data from the UK's Office for National Statistics, is it merely luck? Or a form of superpower? Scientists may have an answer, as there is increasing evidence that some people are naturally resistant to COVID-19, according to a report by the Daily Mail. However, it also pointed to some not entirely understood reasons for their lack of infection, with these individuals believed to be effectively immune to the virus, even amidst its mutations.
To understand this phenomenon, scientists at University College London have been studying blood samples from hundreds of healthcare workers who have never contracted COVID-19. Among these individuals is 34-year-old nurse Lisa Stockwell, who worked most of 2020 in the emergency department treating COVID-19 patients, while her colleagues became infected. Despite being surrounded by the virus, she remained uninfected. The nurse noted that she expected to test positive for COVID-19 at some point but never contracted the virus, and she is unsure whether she has a strong immune system or if there is another unknown factor at play.
Similarly, 46-year-old Nasim Faroughi, a nurse at Bart's Hospital in Central London, has a comparable story. Her blood tests last year showed no trace of the virus in her body.
Meanwhile, when researchers from University College London examined the blood of healthcare workers, they confirmed the absence of antibodies to coronavirus, suggesting it is unlikely they had been infected. Scientists hope to find answers to these questions to help create a vaccine that can combat COVID-19 and its variants. They are also looking into potential genetic differences that may explain why some individuals are immune to infection while others are not.
