Five Years Since the Pandemic Started, Long COVID Patients Are Still Hoping for a Cure

Five years after the pandemic began, around 18 million U.S. adults are still grappling with long COVID, and new cases continue to emerge. Symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, and shortness of breath remain poorly understood, with scientists exploring theories such as viral persistence, immune dysfunction, and microbiome imbalances.

While research has advanced—examining blood clotting and exercise impacts—treatment remains focused on symptom management due to a lack of large-scale drug trials. Experts stress the need for more funding and clinical studies to develop targeted therapies, but uncertainty around federal health agency priorities may hinder progress in this critical area of public health. Read more from NPR here.