Researchers discovered that severe “SARS CoV 2” infections can reactivate chronic viruses such as Anelloviridae and Herpesviridae, even in people without weakened immune systems. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists noticed that a SARS-CoV-2 infection can “wake up” other, dormant viruses already present in the body. The study analyzed data from more than 1,100 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the U.S. between May 2020 and March 2021, none of whom had been vaccinated at the time. Researchers used RNA sequencing and other advanced lab techniques to track viral activity across nasal, blood, and respiratory samples over a 12-month period following hospitalization. Still, the researchers suggest that monitoring these viral markers could eventually support more personalized care for COVID-19 patients.