A woman in Belgium was infected with two separate kinds of variants of COVID-19 at the same time. These included the Alpha and Beta variants of the deadly virus, according to those who investigated the case. Researchers said that the rare phenomenon had been underestimated.

The 90-year-old, who lived alone while receiving nursing care at home, was admitted to the hospital in March. The woman had also not been vaccinated against COVID-19 yet, according to reports from AFP.

The Alpha variant, which was first discovered in the United Kingdom and the Beta variant, first found in South Africa earlier this year, were found in the test results of the 90-year-old. 

Even though there was no hard evidence present so far about how the Belgian woman got infected, researchers at the OLV Hospital said that an infection from two different people was possible. 

They said, “Both these variants were circulating in Belgium at the time, so it is likely that the lady was co-infected with different viruses from two different people. Unfortunately, we don’t know how she became infected”, according to reports from AFP.

The 90-year-old initially had an oxygen saturation level which was considered to be enough for survival, her health deteriorated in the following days of admission to the hospital, which led to her death about five days later.

Brazillian scientists and researchers, in January, reported that similar cases of one person being infected with multiple variants of COVID-19 were detected, however, their study is yet to be published in a scientific journal, according to reports from AFP.

A virologist and professor at the renowned University of Warwick, Lawrence Young said that the phenomenon is not a surprise.

He said in response to the recent Belgian study that it “does highlight the need for more studies to determine whether infection with multiple variants of concern affects the clinical course of COVID-19 and whether this in any way compromises the efficacy of vaccination”, AFP reported.