Japanese researchers linked Long COVID to a dormant herpes virus reactivated by SARS-CoV-2 infection. This process triggers production of the SITH-1 protein, which was identified in about 70% of patients. The SITH-1 protein may contribute directly to brain dysfunction, fatigue, and depression.
Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260714_03/
Study: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1807203/full