A University of Sherbrooke professor has published his recent research on COVID-19 and found that the virus presents some distinctive symptoms.

Dr. Alex Carignan is a medical microbiologist and infectious disease consultant in Sherbrooke as well as a professor and researcher at the University of Sherbrooke.

Carignan and his team conducted research to “confirm whether anosmia (loss of smell) and dysgeusia (alteration in taste) are specific symptoms among those who tested positive for COVID-19,” stated Carignan.

Their research shows that these two symptoms are among the most popular in patients. Loss of smell and taste are also the most distinctive to COVID-19.

“Association between loss of smell and COVID-19 is so strong that if you’re getting tested, and your test is negative, probably you should ask for a second test a few days later to confirm,” said Carignan.

The study concluded that these are two very strong indicators of the virus.

“I would say, yeah, it is even more frequent then fever, and cough, shortness of breath,” added Carignan.

If he were to continue the study further, Dr. Carignan mentioned that he would want to ask the patients how the symptoms and COVID-19, in general, impacted the quality of their life.

Here is Dr. Alex Carignan speaking with CIDI: