Early virus clearance of SARS-CoV-2 among co-infection with malaria

India has witnessed significant number of cases of co-infection of malaria or dengue with COVID-19, especially during the monsoon season. It has been speculated that anti-malarial immunity might have a protective role in co-infection. Retrospective analysis of co-infection of vector-borne diseases with COVID-19 was done for comparing their remission with matched controls with COVID-19 by means of epidemiological data.

Medical case records of patients with co-infection of malaria or dengue with COVID-19 admitted at TNMC and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital from 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Out of 91 cases of co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 infection with vector-borne diseases, virus clearance (VC) analysis was done for 61 co-infections with malaria.

Median duration of VC for co-infection with malaria was 8 days whereas, it was 12 days for controls with COVID-19 (p=0.056). Young patients (≤50 years) with co-infection recovered faster than controls age (p=0.018).

Co-infection with malaria is associated with less severe disease and early recovery in the form of early VC. Genetic and immunological studies are necessary to confirm malaria protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.