Duration of Infectious Virus Shedding by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant–Infected Vaccinees
Kenichiro Takahashi, Masahiro Ishikane, Mugen Ujiie, Noriko Iwamoto, Nobumasa Okumura, Testsuro Sato, Maki Nagashima, Ataru Moriya, Michiyo Suzuki, Masayuki Hojo, Takayuki Kanno, Shinji Saito, Shô Miyamoto, Akira Ainai, Minoru Tobiume, Takeshi Arashiro, Tsuguto Fujimoto, Tomoya Saito, Masaya Yamato, Tadaki Suzuki, Norio Ohmagari
Abstract
To determine virus shedding duration, we examined clinical samples collected from the upper respiratory tracts of persons infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant in Japan during November 29-December 18, 2021. Vaccinees with mild or asymptomatic infection shed infectious virus 6-9 days after onset or diagnosis, even after symptom resolution.
Topics & Concepts
VirologySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Viral sheddingCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSars virusVirusPandemicBiologyMedicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakDiseasePathologySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingCOVID-19 epidemiological studies