Novid: Freaks or flu-proof? – Times of India

Are those who never had Covid-19 delusional or is their immunity due to genetic reasons?

Never had Covid? Then you are a curious case of Novid someone who has never had Covid-19 -a very rare group in the post-pandemic world, where almost everyone you know has been infected at some point.

So, are Novids special or just blessed with plain luck? Globally, experts and researchers alike are trying to decipher the phenomena. In Kerala, while public health experts from both modern medicine and alternate medicine admit that there may be around 10% of Kerala population who are still Novids, they believe that this may probably be limited to rural areas and to the elderly (very few young persons) who have been extremely careful and limited their daily interactions with the outer world.

According to them, thereare also many people who believe that they never had Covid. They might have been either infected by it but didnt get tested as they had no symptoms or simply thought that they had regular flu or allergies and therefore didnt test.

Our study on the third wave experience in India has shown that about 44% people believe that they did not have Covid. These are two categories people who actually never had Covid and those who had and did not know it, especially since a large number of those infected by Covid are asymptomatic. Those who never had Covid have been very careful and have shielded themselves better avoid indoor public gatherings, wear mask when they go out and maintain social distancing, said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, vicechairman, research cell, IMA Kerala.

Do genetic factors also play a role in protecting a person from Coronavirus? Global researchers note that certain types of gene expressions could also provide a protective effect something that is already known with other infectious diseases. But does an individuals genetic makeup really protect them from contracting Covid despite intense exposure to the virus?

We have limited knowledge about the influence of genetic factors as it is still unexplored. Itcould be incidental, said Dr Padmanabha Shenoy, who has been analysing Covid trends in India. While there is hardly any study conducted in India on this, in the West, human genetic factors are being studied in those people who appear naturally resistant to SARS-CoV-2.

Genetic components may help but then its a mild factor in Covid-19. Everyday I get three or four patients who claim that they never had Covid. Majority agree that one or more persons in the family had Covid but they were not infected. But then the healthiest of healthy is not safe and is at risk of getting infected, said diabetologist Dr Jothydev Kesavadev.So, do we really have true Novids who have managed to protect themselves either by actively shielding themselves from the virus by consistently wearing masks and maintaining social distance or just have better immunity?

Like in every epidemic there maybe around 10% of people who have been protected because of passive immunity; that is they have antibodies against Covid-19 , said Dr Krishnakumar Chempankulam, general secretary, IndianHomeopathic Medical Association (IHMA).

However, not everyone agrees with this. The possibility of such persons is very little in the state as there was a massive community spread of Covid-19 in the state, said Dr Vijayan Nangeli, president, Ayurveda Hospital and Management Association and chairman of Ayush Aikya Vedi said.

Incidentally, the odds of remaining Novid shrinks with Covid restrictions lifted and life returning to pre-Covid times resulting in reduced attention to preventive measures such as masking and physical distancing, combined with the rise of vaccine-resistant and immunity-resistant variants.

Neither I nor my family member have ever had Covid like symptoms. For two years, we took preventive medicines and followed a healthy lifestyle and that has protected us. I had fever once but it lasted for less than a day and now I have flu like symptoms but I am certain it is not Covid and never got tested, said activist and member of Forum for Health Justice, Kerala, SP Ravi, who believes that he was never infected with Covid.

So is he probably plain lucky or would a Covid test have thrown a surprise.

It is difficult to scientifically establish if a person is Novid unless tests are done to confirm infection or the antibody titre. Till scientifically established, it is difficult to accept a person as Novid, said Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) president Dr G S Vijayakrishnan.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Novid: Freaks or flu-proof? - Times of India