A new study has found that the effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after viral infection are no worse than other respiratory illnesses such as influenza. The study’s author, the top health official in Australia’s Queensland state, declared it was time to scrap the term “long coronavirus” as it was harmful and misleading.
Dr John Gerrard of Queensland chief health officeris a leading expert on infectious diseases and previously served as Head of Infectious Diseases at Gold Coast Hospital.
Gerrard is also the lead author of a recent study that found that the post-viral effects of COVID-19 are as severe, if not more severe, than other respiratory illnesses.
“We believe it is time to stop using terms like ‘long-term coronavirus.’ They believe there is something unique and exceptional about the long-term symptoms associated with this virus. It’s falsely implying something,” Gerrard said. declared. “This term can cause unnecessary fear and, in some cases, hyper-alertness about long-term symptoms that may impede recovery.”
The study looked at 5,112 adults who had symptoms of respiratory illness and underwent a PCR test between May and June 2022. Of those, 2,399 people tested positive for COVID-19, 995 people tested positive for influenza, and 1,718 people tested negative for both tests.
One year after the PCR test, study participants were asked about any ongoing symptoms.
Among respondents, 16% reported continued symptoms after 1 year, and 3.6% reported moderate to severe functional impairment.
In fact, research shows that people who contracted the flu were more likely to become disabled a year later.
According to progressive media guardian“The 3% of study participants who had persistent disability after COVID-19 infection was similar to the 3.4% who had persistent disability after influenza.”
of Australian Broadcasting Corporation “Dr Gerrard said 94 per cent of participants who reported moderate to severe functional limitations experienced fatigue, worsening of symptoms after exercise, brain fog, and changes in taste and smell a year after infection.” reported.
Professor Gerrard will present his research at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona next month.
“Our evidence suggests that the virus does not exist and is not similar to other viruses,” Gerrard said. declared. “That doesn’t mean you won’t get these persistent symptoms after a COVID-19 infection, but it doesn’t mean you’re any less likely to get them after a COVID-19 infection than with other respiratory viruses. .”
Gerrard stressed: “But for the vast majority of people, recovery is normal.”
Gerrard told a press conference on Friday: “I want to be clear that the symptoms that some patients have described after contracting COVID-19 are real and we believe they are real. “What we’re saying is the incidence of these symptoms is zero.” COVID-19 is more contagious than other respiratory viruses, and I believe this use of the term “long-term COVID-19” is misleading and harmful. ”
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