<story><title>Scientists fear pandemic&apos;s &apos;hyper hygiene&apos; could have long-term health impacts</title><url>https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-downside-of-clean-scientists-fear-pandemics-hyper-hygiene-could-have-long-term-health-impacts</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>magnio</author><text>Yet another news article that doesn&amp;#x27;t link the damn paper.&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;The hygiene hypothesis, the COVID pandemic, and consequences for the human microbiome&amp;quot;&lt;p&gt;&amp;gt; This pandemic intersects with a decades-long decline in microbial diversity and ancestral microbes due to hygiene, antibiotics, and urban living (the hygiene hypothesis). High-risk groups succumbing to COVID-19 include those with preexisting conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, which are also associated with microbiome abnormalities. Current pandemic control measures and practices will have broad, uneven, and potentially long-term effects for the human microbiome across the planet, given the implementation of physical separation, extensive hygiene, travel barriers, and other measures that influence overall microbial loss and inability for reinoculation. Although much remains uncertain or unknown about the virus and its consequences, implementing pandemic control practices could significantly affect the microbiome.&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.pnas.org&amp;#x2F;content&amp;#x2F;118&amp;#x2F;6&amp;#x2F;e2010217118&quot; rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;&gt;https:&amp;#x2F;&amp;#x2F;www.pnas.org&amp;#x2F;content&amp;#x2F;118&amp;#x2F;6&amp;#x2F;e2010217118&lt;/a&gt;</text></comment>
<story><title>Scientists fear pandemic&apos;s &apos;hyper hygiene&apos; could have long-term health impacts</title><url>https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-downside-of-clean-scientists-fear-pandemics-hyper-hygiene-could-have-long-term-health-impacts</url></story><parent_chain></parent_chain><comment><author>faitswulff</author><text>There&amp;#x27;s a difference between being exposed to dirt and being exposed to viral diseases, though. Playing outside in the leaves will likely trigger healthy immune responses. Contracting COVID-19 may lead to long term health issues.</text></comment>