What Is The TikTok 'Mystery Virus'? Infectious Disease Doc Explains

It’s been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic upended everything.

And since then, people have become obsessed with researching infectious diseases from their phones. That heightened awareness comes with a dark side, though. Experts suggest that after years of slogging through the pandemic, people are more likely to panic if they start to feel under the weather.

Cue the “mystery virus” that’s been blowing up on TikTok.

A slew of people are posting videos talking about the so-called “mystery virus,” and there’s a low level of anxiety that’s going along with it.

“I have been super healthy, working out every single day, not drinking…and then out of nowhere I just got a random deep cough,” said TikToker Chris James Kahle. “Is there anything going around that we don’t know about?”

Plenty of people in the comments shared that they’re dealing with unexplained symptoms, too. And there are a ton of similar video posts floating around the platform.

Meet the expert: Thomas Russo, MD, is chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York.

So, what’s the deal with this mystery virus? WH tapped an infectious disease doctor to find out.

What is the “mystery virus” that TikTokers say they have?

It’s really hard to say for sure. Several people say that they’ve tested negative for the flu, RSV, and COVID-19, but they’re having symptoms like a cough, sore throat, nausea, and feeling lousy. Some say they have a lot of mucus production; others say they have none.

What is it? It could be a range of things, says Thomas Russo, MD, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. “There are many, many respiratory viruses out there,” he says, listing off rhinoviruses, non-SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses, and adenoviruses, all of which can cause respiratory tract symptoms.

“Unless you do an expansive molecular panel that we do on select patients who are hospitalized, you wouldn’t know for sure,” Russo says. This could even be the result of allergies to things like dust and mold, he says.

But Russo also points out that people are more aware of symptoms since COVID-19 made its debut and may simply be having anxiety about symptoms they're experiencing—even though they may have written these off as no biggie pre-pandemic.

How to treat mystery virus symptoms

If you’re experiencing mystery virus symptoms, Russo says it’s important to first test yourself for COVID-19. If it’s negative and you feel lousy, you can contact your primary care physician about getting tested for the flu.

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If you have a fever or aches and pains, Russo says you can take acetaminophen. Drinking plenty of fluids and getting some rest should help, too.

If you find that you’re starting to feel better only to get worse again, Russo recommends contacting your doctor. “With viral infections, occasionally you can get a secondary bacterial infection,” he says. If that’s the case, you may need antibiotics to help clear things up.

Overall, Russo says there’s no need to panic. “It could just be a cold,” he says.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.