MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Report: Antibody tests reveal coronavirus might have arrived in WA in December

May 15, 2020, 10:14 AM | Updated: 10:47 am

Antibody test coronavirus, coronavirus mutation...

A blood test for coronavirus. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Positive antibody tests in two Snohomish County residents indicate that COVID-19 could have possibly arrived in Washington state as far back as December.

Seattle scientist details ‘gold standard’ for tracking COVID-19 outbreak

According to a report from The Seattle Times, a woman named Jean fell ill in December 2019, with symptoms that included a dry cough, fever, aches, and wheezing. Jean’s blood recently tested positive for the antibodies produced by a COVID infection, leading local officials to determine that it’s possible she had the illness around the time she experienced those symptoms.

Officials previously identified what they thought was the first confirmed case in both the U.S. and Washington in late-January, in a patient who had recently returned from a trip to Wuhan, China. If Jean’s serology test is accurate, that would date the arrival of the illness on American shores as even earlier than previously thought.

Antibody tests aren’t always 100% accurate, and can’t actually identify the exact time frame an infection occurred. But given Jean’s reported symptoms from December, Snohomish County officials aren’t ruling anything out for her and one other patient who tested positive.

UW Medicine testing app designed to predict next major outbreak

“They are being considered ‘probable,’” a county official spokesperson told the Times.

That being so, Snohomish County officials told KIRO 7 that there are currently no current efforts underway to reexamine the spread of COVID-19 in late 2019, citing already strained resources.

Serology testing is currently being used to determine whether people could potentially have immunity to the virus moving forward. Researchers remain uncertain, though, as to how long any sort of immunity afforded by antibodies might last.

MyNorthwest News

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

9 hours ago

Photo: The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center....

James Lynch

King County’s plan to close youth detention center met with fierce backlash

The King County Law and Justice Committee received a final report on Executive Dow Constantine's plan to close a youth detention center.

10 hours ago

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

12 hours ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

12 hours ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

13 hours ago

Image: A Tacoma teen was shot outside her Tacoma Hilltop area apartment over the weekend....

Heather Bosch

Estranged boyfriend suspected in Tacoma teen’s death turns himself in

We're learning more about the man who's accused of fatally shooting a teenager outside her Tacoma Hill Top area apartment over the weekend.

13 hours ago

Report: Antibody tests reveal coronavirus might have arrived in WA in December