CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Public health experts continue to warn older adults and those with complicated health conditions to do everything possible to stay well, But transplant patients are also at risk.
When we first met Greg Brunner more than a year ago, he had just been given the gift of life. His niece Cindy Kuethe was his living kidney donor.
Since then, like many others who've had transplant surgery, he is on a careful medical regime to stay well. But University of Cincinnati transplant care specialist Dr. Amit Govil said when it comes to the coronavirus, transplant patients have a high risk of acquiring coronavirus and complications from this infection.
Right now, Dr. Govil says for those who've had organ transplants:
"The frequency of these organs getting into trouble, it's still very low. We do not know as of now if transplant patients do any worse than general population when it comes to COVID-19."
Right now, he says for those waiting for an organ donor in this coronavirus crisis, they can't use the organs of those who die from this virus.
But to be sure organs that could be used to save lives are not missed, centers across the country are now testing the deceased donors if they have COVID-19.
For now, if you've had transplant surgery Dr. Govil says take all the same precautions you did to prevent infection right after surgery.
