I was disappointed to see the article ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ (The Sunday Times, August 22). The correct name for the illness is myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), as listed by the World Health Organisation, which recognises the illness as a neurological disease.
There is nothing “mysterious” or in question about this. Moreover, to imply that this illness can be attributed to the “stress of living” is unacceptable when scientifically proven biomarkers have been established.
It is deeply upsetting to sufferers of this severe illness to see yet another article that, in effect, blames the patient, minimises the severity of the illness, and also ignores the fact that even young children can get this disease.
It is also strange to see such an outdated piece on ME which ignores recent scientific research. Like a page out of the dark ages, the old prejudices are printed again. Many years ago, both diabetes and multiple sclerosis were believed to be caused by hysteria. Even longer ago, leprosy was proof of evil.
Fortunately, today we can turn to science for answers. A recent report by Malcolm Hooper lists hundreds of recent scientific studies that have been carried out on ME patients – studies that provide evidence for the biological causes and effects of this illness.
Other studies carried out in the past year in the US by respected university and government scientific bodies have discovered that approximately 67 to 80 per cent of people with ME carry the XMRV virus – the third retrovirus to be found in humans, the others being HIV (AIDS) and HTLV (leukaemia).
The original study published in Science (Vince Lombardi et al.) has now been replicated and confirmed in a study published recently.
As a result of these studies, health officials in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have banned people with ME from donating blood. In the UK and the US such blood donations are strongly discouraged. The blood supply around the world is probably already contaminated with this virus, and there is evidence that people have contracted ME following blood transfusions.
Some of the natural remedies cited by this author may ease a few ME symptoms; however, they do not cure the disease. The reference to graded exercise and aerobic exercise is, however, extremely irresponsible. In many people with ME, symptoms become significantly worse following exercise. This finding has been made in various studies and is repeated in informal surveys of sufferers.
The article was typical of the material that merely serves to muddy the waters and which confuses the vague and common problem of fatigue’ with a very serious neuro-immune disease.
The public has a right to accurate and responsible reporting on this illness. As long as journalists continue to portray it as a “controversial” and “mysterious” illness, vulnerable sick people will continue to be abused by purveyors of scam “treatments”.
If you think you may have contracted ME, and would like correct information and facts about the illness, contact ME Sufferers Malta via our website: www.mesufferersmalta.org. You can also find our group on Facebook.