Long COVID inquiry encouraging, but more work needed on how to treat patients

The AMA says that the announcement of a Parliamentary inquiry into long COVID is a welcome sign to the many people with the condition that they are being listened to, however, more investment and research is needed to come to grips with the long-term effects of the virus.

AMA President, Professor Steve Robson, says the calling of a Parliamentary inquiry into long COVID is a clear signal to people who are going through it that they are being taken seriously.

He told the Canberra Times that he was extremely encouraged with the announcement of a House of Representatives health committee inquiry this week into long COVID and repeated infections.

Professor Robson warned in the Sydney Morning Herald that Australia faces the potential of “a total tsunami of long COVID in the community”.

He told the Canberra Times that the impact of long COVID would be difficult to quantify and initial research was still being established.

Professor Robson said, “We hope that people who suffer take it as a sign that what they are going through is being taken seriously, and we hope it’s the start of something very positive moving forward”.

On ABC’s PM he said three things were needed to come to grips with long COVID.

“I think first of all we need a recognition that this is a clinical entity and that it affects a lot of people. I think we need a commitment to some form of support and acceptance nationally for people who are affected by long COVID.

“And I think we need more investment in research. We know some mechanisms like inflammation of the nervous system and immune disruption are important, but a lot of work needs to be done before we can work out how to treat it.”

Professor Robson told the Canberra Times the long-term consequences of a new virus were complex, however, there were reasons to believe they could be severe.

“If you look at herpes, long herpes is Alzheimer’s disease. Long Epstein-Barr virus is multiple sclerosis.

“There are a lot of other worrying models suggesting long-term effects are not necessarily benign.”