Time to stop using term ‘long Covid’ for symptoms like those after flu, study finds

Queensland research’s lead author says thinking longer-term Covid symptoms are unique can create hypervigilance and impede recovery

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Long Covid may be no different from other post-viral syndromes such as those experienced after flu, according to new research from Queensland Health.

The lead author of the study, the state’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard, said it was “time to stop using terms like ‘long Covid’” because they imply there is something unique about the longer-term symptoms associated with the virus, and in some cases create hypervigilance for them which can impede recovery.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup