Herpes viruses emerge more frequently after COVID-19 and sometimes after vaccination

COVID-19 can reactivate latent herpesviruses such as HSV, Epstein-Barr and shingles, with symptoms ranging from fatigue to skin rashes. This also sometimes occurs after an mRNA vaccination, especially in people with weakened immune systems. With a Blood Values Test, you can get targeted testing to see if a herpes virus reactivation is the cause of your symptoms.

By Health & Science editors

Anyone who went through COVID-19 knows the aftermath: fatigue, "lung COVID," an erratic immune system. But international research shows something else: dormant herpes viruses, such as herpes simplex virus (cold sores), Epstein-Barr virus (Pfeiffer's disease) and varicella-zoster virus (shingles), remarkably often come back to life after corona infection. To a lesser extent, the same happens after mRNA vaccination.

Strong evidence in international reviews
A large review study by Navarro-Bielsa et al. (2023) and several meta-analyses show a clear pattern. In COVID-19 patients, re-activations were reported of:
- Herpes simplex (HSV-1/2): up to 38%
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, Pfeiffer's disease): up to 45%, and even up to 60% in pulmonary COVID
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV): up to 19%
- HHV-6/7: up to 44%
- Varicella-zoster (shingles): demonstrably more common after infection as well as after mRNA vaccination (especially those over 60 and those with weakened immune systems)

The likely reason? The coronavirus and its immune response can temporarily suppress T-cell and NK-cell defenses. This gives latent viruses a chance to multiply.

How do you notice it?
Herpes reactivation can have different faces:
- Blistering rash or painful nerve activity (shingles)
- Prolonged fatigue, fever and elevated CRP
- Abnormal liver enzymes or lowered CD8+ and NK cells

When testing is useful
In cases of unexplained skin abnormalities, prolonged fatigue or neurological symptoms, targeted blood tests are sensible. Bloedwaardentest.nl offers several tests for this purpose, with blood sampling at more than 1000 locations in the Netherlands:

- Herpes Simplex 1 & 2 IgG/IgM - shows a (recent) infection with HSV-1 or HSV-2
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, Pfeiffer's disease) VCA IgM/IgG & EBNA, useful in lung-COVID-like symptoms
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG/IgM - relevant in impaired immunity or pregnancy
- Varicella-Zoster (VZV) IgG/IgM - in (suspicion of) shingles
- Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) IgG/IgM - rarer, but relevant in fever or neurological symptoms

Important: If a rash requires medical urgency, you will always be called by a physician or medical professional first.

Immune support: what we do and do not know
Observational research suggests a supportive role for vitamin D, zinc, selenium and vitamin C, in addition to adequate sleep, stress reduction and exercise. But hard clinical evidence is limited; these recommendations do not replace medical treatment.

Conclusion
The international consensus is clear: COVID-19 can awaken latent herpesviruses, and sometimes it does after mRNA vaccination. Those who retain unexplained symptoms after infection or vaccination can be clarified with targeted blood tests and, if necessary, treated promptly.