COVID can reactivate hidden viruses in the human body
Researchers have found that severe COVID-19 cases can reactivate dormant viruses in the human body, specifically linking the Anelloviridae family to long COVID symptoms. The study, involving over 1,000 patients, suggests these reawakened viruses may contribute to chronic physical disabilities.
Why it matters
Identifying a potential biological mechanism for long COVID could lead to better diagnostic markers and targeted treatments for millions suffering from the condition.
Most adults carry old viruses that stopped causing symptoms years ago.
Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex infect people when they’re young, and then go dormant for decades.
Severe COVID-19 reawakened 11 of those dormant viruses in hospitalized patients. The one most strongly linked to lasting illness belongs to a family few people have ever heard of.
Dr. Ofer Levy , a physician and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital , was a site principal investigator on the work. He directs the hospital’s Precision Vaccines Program .
The little-known family of viruses is called Anelloviridae. About 90 percent of people carry anelloviruses, usually without symptoms or any obvious harm.
Researchers still know little about what they do when they are active. Viruses that reawaken this way have been linked to autoimmune disease and other long-running conditions, which is the reason anyone was watching them.
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