Severe COVID-19 Linked to Reactivation of Dormant Viruses

A study of 1,154 hospitalized patients published in Nature found that severe COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses like Anelloviridae and Herpesviridae in immunocompetent individuals.

Researchers identified viral transcripts in nasal swabs and blood samples, noting that persistent Anelloviridae activity during the recovery phase is associated with long COVID physical symptoms.

The study, conducted between May 2020 and March 2021, observed that while SARS-CoV-2 was the most prevalent virus, reactivation of EBV and CMV was common within the first 40 days of hospitalization.