Lots of viruses can set off autoimmune reactions in select populations, but Leonardi thought COVID might have the potential to unsettle the general health of the globe, and even change life expectancy patterns.

Readings on the long-term health impact of the original SARS virus and its cousin MERS also alarmed Leonardi.

These pathogens also disrupted the immune system. MERS, for example, not only infected and killed the cells lining blood walls but T cells as well. Both SARS and MERS could overcome the defences of the immune system, and result in prolonged chronic illness that lasted years.

To Leonardi the ramifications seemed highly significant. It meant that repeated waves of COVID infection might not leave durable or competent memory to fight reinfection or to clear the virus. Repeat infections could get worse over time resulting in more death, organ damage and long-term disability. He started writing letters to school boards and issuing warnings about his conclusions based on his extensive readings.
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“His arguments threatened to undermine the narratives of those people minimizing the pandemic,” Gregory told The Tyee. “If previous infection dampens the immune system and does not strengthen it, it undermines the popular notion that we should let the virus rip.”

Yaneer Bar-Yam, an acclaimed complexity scientist, pandemic expert and director of the World Health Network, agrees. “The reasons Anthony was so broadly attacked was because he undermined the position that once you’ve been infected, you don’t have to worry again.”

Toronto emergency physician Kashif Pirzada has been following Leonardi’s take on COVID and initially didn’t want to believe his predictions on T cells. “But they have stood the test of time and are now being confirmed by multiple lab studies.”