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Long COVID Linked to Reactivated Viruses
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- A study of 1,154 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients found nearly half experienced reactivation of dormant viruses, including herpesviruses and anelloviruses, within 40 days of hospital admission.
- Reactivated viruses were associated with increased inflammation and immune activation, with anellovirus reactivation linked to long COVID symptoms like fatigue and physical impairment.
- The findings challenge the belief that viral reactivation occurs only in immunocompromised individuals, though effects in vaccinated patients or those with milder COVID remain unknown.
- Researchers suggest future studies should explore whether detecting and treating these reactivated viruses can reduce the severity of COVID-19 and long COVID.
