New Zealanders with myalgic encephalopathy (ME) - commonly
known as chronic fatigue syndrome - are looking at studies in
the United States that show a possible link between the
illness and a retrovirus.
The Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES) which helps
victims of the condition said today that investigations by
the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had confirmed a strong
association with a family of murine leukaemia viruses (MLV),
that includes xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus
(XMRV).
"Although this is at the early stages of investigation it
does show that ME is a real physical illness and patients
need long-term medical support and assistance from others,"
said ANZMES president Heather Wilson.
The initial study found XMRV virus in the blood of two-thirds
of the 101 chronic fatigue patients tested.
Ms Wilson said that though there was no cure for the illness
and there were difficulties in making a clear diagnosis, the
latest research may lead to both a diagnostic tool and a
treatment, potentially using medications already in use today
for other conditions.
It is thought as many as 20,000 people in New Zealand suffer
from ME.
Chronic fatigue was first identified in New Zealand, when
West Otago doctor Peter Snow identified what became popularly
known as "Tapanui flu".
After hundreds of Americans in Nevada also developed fatigue
and memory problems after suffering flu-like symptoms, the US
Centres for Disease Control labelled the illness chronic
fatigue syndrome.
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