Severe COVID-19 reactivates dormant viruses
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026
The study may boost interest in antiviral therapies targeting herpesviruses and in diagnostics for viral reactivation, potentially benefiting biotech and pharmaceutical companies. However, since causation is not established, immediate market impact is limited, and the news is more relevant to research and development pipelines.
A study published in Nature found that severe COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body. Researchers from Boston Children s Hospital, University of Texas at Austin, and collaborators analyzed samples from 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. They detected reactivation of Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Anelloviridae in nearly half of the patients. Reactivation was associated with increased inflammation and disease severity. Anelloviridae reactivation was linked to long COVID and physical disability. The study does not prove causation, and experts caution that reactivated viruses may be coincidental. The findings could inform future diagnostics and treatments for long COVID.
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