Study Finds Covid-19 Reactivated 11 Dormant Viruses in Nearly Half of 1,154 Patients
Updated
Updated · Smithsonian Magazine · Aug 14
Study Finds Covid-19 Reactivated 11 Dormant Viruses in Nearly Half of 1,154 Patients
3 articles · Updated · Smithsonian Magazine · Aug 14
Summary
Nearly half of 1,154 unvaccinated patients hospitalized with Covid-19 showed reactivation of 11 dormant viruses within 40 days of admission, according to a Nature study.
Epstein-Barr, Cytomegalovirus and HSV1 were among the most common; Epstein-Barr peaked early, while CMV and HSV1 tended to emerge about three weeks later.
Reactivation tracked with higher inflammatory proteins, more activated immune cells and signs of reduced protection against oxidative stress, linking it to more severe Covid-19 and possibly long Covid.
Anelloviruses—usually considered harmless—were associated with fatigue and other long-Covid symptoms, though researchers said the study cannot yet show whether they cause illness or mark immune overdrive.
The findings challenge the idea that only weakened immune systems drive viral reactivation, but their relevance to vaccinated people or newer Covid strains remains unclear because the cohort came from early-pandemic hospitalizations.