Waking the Dead:

How Spike Protein Breaks Into the Body's Viral Prisons

February 13, 2026

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A Message from Dr. McMillan

The immune system survives by maintaining equilibrium with latent viruses. Excessive inflammatory signaling can disturb that balance and transiently reactivate dormant virus.


The issue is not immune weakness, but immune dysregulation, pushing the system too hard can be as destabilizing as underperformance.


The priority now is stabilization: reducing unnecessary inflammatory stress so the immune system can coexist without tipping into reactivation.

Dr. Philip McMillan

In this week's February 13th, 2026 update:

  • Covid-19: How spike protein breaks into viral prisons

  • Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video

  • Health: Why ‘superbugs’ thrive in hospitals

  • Infographic: Waking the dead

  • News: Medical news in brief

  • Education: Post COVID phenotypes - What makes you unique?

    Read time: 6 minutes

FEATURE ARTICLE

COVID-19

  • Dormant viruses like chickenpox, EBV, and herpes remain hidden in your body, kept in check by immune surveillance.

  • SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can reactivate these latent viruses through inflammatory signaling and T-cell dysfunction pathways.

  • People who push themselves too hard and have low-grade immune stress are most vulnerable, often unaware they're near their recovery limit.

  • Balance, not boosting, protects against reactivation of dormant viruses – prioritizing sleep, blood sugar stability, magnesium, vitamin D, and omega-3s.

Why this is important: Viruses you caught decades ago may never truly leave your body. New research suggests that repeated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, from infection or vaccination, may reawaken these dormant viruses by disrupting immune balance. Simple lifestyle strategies like sleep, nutrition, and stress management could be your best defense.

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HEALTH

Why ‘Superbugs’ Thrive in Hospitals
Author: Manal Mohammed, University of Westminster

  • Scotland police are investigating six patient deaths linked to infections at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

  • Hospital-acquired infections affect millions globally each year, causing longer stays, disability, and death.

  • Key pathogens include antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, C. difficile, and drug-resistant fungi and viruses.

  • Prevention requires strict hygiene, sterilization, environmental cleaning, responsible antibiotic use, and improved hospital design.

Why this is important: Hospitals are meant to heal, yet infections acquired during treatment kill over a million people worldwide each year. An investigation into patient deaths at a Glasgow hospital highlights how contaminated environments, antibiotic-resistant superbugs and inadequate hygiene can turn places of care into sources of preventable harm.

INFOGRAPHIC

EDUCATION

This short tool maps symptom patterns and highlights which systems may need attention first - because with Post-COVID patterns, order of therapy often matters more than severity of symptoms.

If you’re living with ongoing symptoms or know someone who is, I would encourage you to click on the link, create a record of your symptoms and learn more about what they may mean.

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 Why Working Out May Not Help You Lose Weight: Your body quietly sabotages your workout efforts. Research reveals that roughly 28% of calories burned through exercise are clawed back as the body dials down other internal processes. This helps explain why hitting the gym alone rarely delivers expected weight loss, reinforcing that diet remains the more powerful lever. [SOURCE]

🚥 Vitamin D: Everything You Need to Know About This Supplement: Millions of people risk weakened bones, compromised immunity, and low mood each winter simply because their bodies cannot produce enough vitamin D from scarce sunlight. A small, inexpensive daily supplement of 10 micrograms (400 IU) can bridge this gap, making it one of the easiest health interventions available during the darker months.

🚥 Study of 12 Monks Finds Meditation Heightens Brain Activity, Reshaping Neural Dynamics: Meditation physically reshapes how the brain balances order and chaos, pushing it toward a "sweet spot" of peak efficiency, flexibility, and adaptability. This matters because it provides hard neuroscientific evidence that meditation isn't passive relaxation but an active recalibration of brain function, with real implications for treating anxiety and depression. [SOURCE]

🚥 Meal Timing in Time-Restricted Eating Matters for Metabolic Health: Aligning meals earlier in the day, rather than simply narrowing the eating window, appears to be the key driver of metabolic benefits in time-restricted eating. This reframes dietary advice: it's not just about how long you eat, but when, offering a practical, accessible strategy for improving blood sugar, weight, and heart health. [SOURCE]

🚥 What New Twins Study Reveals About Genes, Environment and Longevity: Your genes may shape half your lifespan, not just a quarter as previously thought. New research on twins raised apart suggests inherited biology plays a larger role in longevity than earlier estimates. This matters because it redefines how much diet, exercise, and future medical breakthroughs can actually extend human life.

🚥 Early Cognitive Stimulation Protects Brain Function in Alzheimer's Disease: Keeping your brain actively challenged from an early age may help protect memory and brain connections even as Alzheimer's progresses. Notably, males and females respond differently to this cognitive training, suggesting that prevention strategies should be tailored by sex for maximum benefit.
[SOURCE]

BOOK NOOK

Set within a child’s nose, ‘Humming Heroes’ features a family of Lymphocytes led by a wise Mother, brave Father, determined Brother, and heroic Baby, confronting invading microorganisms. The story takes an imaginative turn, when a humming melody combines with the Lymphocytes’ song to repel the invaders and restore inner harmony.

"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:

  • Practical strategies for personal and community preparedness.

  • Lessons learned from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.

  • Actionable steps to boost resilience against emerging health threats.

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