Covid-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, Study Finds
A study released in Nature on August 5 indicates that dormant viruses can be reactivated by Covid-19, leading to more severe symptoms. The research examined 1,154 unvaccinated individuals admitted for Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021, revealing that almost 50% experienced reactivation within 40 days. The most frequently reactivated viruses were cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus, and Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), with Epstein-Barr showing early peaks and CMV and HSV1 emerging three weeks later. Anelloviruses were also detected upon admission. This reactivation correlated with heightened inflammation markers and diminished protective molecules, hinting at a relationship with Covid-19 severity and long Covid. Co-authors Esther Melamed and Ofer Levy highlighted the necessity for improved treatments.
Key facts
- Study published in Nature on August 5
- 1,154 unvaccinated patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021
- Nearly half experienced reactivation of dormant viruses within 40 days of admission
- Common reactivated viruses: CMV, Epstein-Barr virus, HSV1, anelloviruses
- Reactivation occurred in otherwise healthy immune systems
- Reactivation associated with higher inflammation markers and activated immune cells
- Anellovirus reactivation linked to long Covid symptoms like fatigue
- Limitations: only unvaccinated patients, early pandemic strains
Entities
Institutions
- Nature
- University of Texas at Austin
- Stellenbosch University
- Imperial College London
- University of California, San Francisco
- Boston Children's Hospital
- World Health Organization
Locations
- United States
- South Africa
- London
- San Francisco
- Boston
- New York City