COVID-19 reinfection ups risk of long COVID, new data show

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COVID-19
Jobalou / iStock

A new survey study reveals that people who had two COVID-19 infections were more than twice as likely—and those who had three or more COVID-19 infections were almost four times more likely—to report long COVID as those with one infection.

The study involved 3,382 global survey respondents and was conducted by researchers with the Patient-Led Research Collaborative on long COVID. It was published this week on Research Square, which is the preprint service of the Nature Portfolio. It has not yet undergone peer review.

Among the survey respondents, who were polled from March 30 to September 1, 2023, 22% had never had COVID-19, 42% had it once, 25% twice, and 10% three times or more. They said their acute SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred from February 2020 through August 2023, with 24% of first infections and 27% of re-infections in 2020. They reported that 52% of first infections and 43% reinfections were in 2022, while 7% of first infections and 15% of reinfections were in 2023.

Reinfection raised risk of severe fatigue, functional limitations

The researchers found that, compared with people who had COVID only once, those who had two COVID infections were 2.14 times more likely to report long COVID, and those who had three or more COVID infections were 3.75 times more likely to have the long-term condition. They also noted that the odds of both severe fatigue and post-exertional malaise, both of which can be quite debilitating, increased with reinfections. 

These findings underscore the need for robust public health measures for COVID-19 infection prevention and the importance of considering reinfections in Long COVID research and clinical practice.

Fatigue severity also increased with re-infections. As did the odds of functional limitations, such as bathing and dressing difficulty and limits on moderate activity.

The researchers also noted that the number of pre-infection vaccines and boosters cut the risk of long COVID, but their efficacy was diminished by reinfections.

The authors conclude, "These findings underscore the need for robust public health measures for COVID-19 infection prevention and the importance of considering reinfections in Long COVID research and clinical practice." The team summarized its findings on X.

Listeria outbreak tied to deli meat slows but reaches 10 deaths

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Listeria
liverwurst
Artizone / Flickr cc

One new death and 2 new cases of listeriosis have been recording in an ongoing multistate outbreak tied to tainted Boar's Head deli meat. The outbreak has reached 59 confirmed cases and 10 deaths, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update yesterday. 

The death was recorded in New York state, which has reported 17 cases. In total 19 states have recorded cases, and all case-patients have required hospitalization. 

Illness reports have started to decrease.

"Illness reports have started to decrease, and CDC will update this notice less frequently," the CDC said in a media release yesterday. "Because it can take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis, CDC will continue to collect information for some time and report new information as it is available."

Some products have October sell-by dates 

Boar's Head has recalled all implicated meat products, but some products have sell-by dates in October 2024. The CDC said some consumers may still have recalled products in their homes and should discard them immediately.

Boar's Head has recalled 71 meat products processed at its Jarratt, Virginia, facility from May 10, 2024, to July 29, 2024, under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names. 

The Maryland Department of Health first identified Listeria monocytogenes in a liverwurst sample from meat produced at that facility this summer. 

Young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and adults over 65 are at the greatest risk of severe outcomes if sickened with Listeria. 

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