Many people carry quiet viruses such as Epstein‑Barr, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes. Usually they cause no problems. New research suggests that when these viruses wake up, they may worsen autoimmune diseases and long‑lasting health issues.
Scientists from Boston Children’s Hospital and 14 other research centers studied over a thousand hospital patients with COVID‑19. They looked for signs that hidden viruses had become active again. The work was published in Nature and gathered more than 200,000 samples and billions of data points.
How the Study Was Done
Doctor Ofer Levy led the effort for the NIH‑funded project. The team followed 1,154 patients at 20 U.S. hospitals. They used genetic sequencing to spot reactivated viruses. Stress from severe illness can sometimes cause silent viruses to flare up.
Viruses That Reactivated
Within 40 days of admission, researchers found 11 different viruses waking up. The most common were Epstein‑Barr, herpes simplex 1, CMV, and members of the Anelloviridae family.
Reactivation of Anelloviridae—found in about 90 % of people—was strongly linked to long‑term disability and long‑COVID symptoms.
Inflammation, Not Suppression
Blood tests also showed that Epstein‑Barr and CMV seemed to reactivate because of inflammation, not because the immune system was weakened. This challenges the idea that only a weak immune system lets dormant viruses return.
Dr. Levy noted that millions still suffer from long‑COVID, and understanding viral reactivation could help create better tests and treatments.
Looking Ahead
The team plans to study how the immune system reacts to these revived viruses over the course of COVID‑19. Their goal is to find the best medicines and the right time to use them.
Other contributors include Jing Chen, Annmarie Hoch, Al Ozonoff, Kinga Smolen, and Hanno Steen.