U.S. CDC Confirms COVID-19 'Rebound' Cases

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued today Health Alert Network Health Advisory CDCHAN-00467 to update healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public on the potential for recurrence of COVID-19 or "COVID-19 Rebound." 

COVID-19 Rebound cases have been reported to occur between two and 8 days after initial recovery. They are characterized by a recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after testing negative. 

A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (the beta coronavirus that causes COVID-19) infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status.

The CDC stated on May 24, 2022, 'limited information currently available from case reports suggests that persons treated with the oral antiviral Paxlovid who experience COVID-19 rebound have had a mild illness, as there are no reports of severe disease.'

Furthermore, 'there is currently no evidence that additional treatment is needed with Paxlovid or other anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies in cases where COVID-19 Rebound is suspected.'

As of May 23, 2022, the U.S. government confirmed it had distributed 3,797,458 Paxlovid oral treatments since late 2021.

Paxlovid is approved by the U.S. FDA and in Europe, and is the first orally administered coronavirus-specific investigational protease inhibitor for certain adults and children diagnosed with COVID-19.

Paxlovid inhibits viral replication at a stage known as proteolysis, which occurs before viral RNA replication.

Note: This CDC news was manually curated for mobile readers.