Researchers Say COVID-19 Will Lead to Surge in Chronic Illness, ME Sufferers Speak Out.

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Contact: Adriane Tillman 
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Some post-COVID patients are not recovering as expected, and researchers are predicting the pandemic will lead to a surge in long-term chronic illness, including an uptick in cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME  – also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS), a debilitating illness that affects more than 1 million Americans.

On May 12th, #MEAction will hold a global #MillionsMissing demonstration calling for governments to urgently respond to prepare for this impending crisis.

A large body of research shows that long-term illness and disability can be triggered by viral infections, like COVID-19. Up to 80% of cases of ME are initiated by a viral infection.

“Coronavirus leading to more cases of ME will happen for sure, unfortunately,” said Dr. Alain Moreau of Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. “We need to be ready for the next wave.”  

Whitney Fox, 31, who developed ME after contracting the H1N1 virus, is terrified for this next wave of ME patients knowing how difficult it is to get a timely diagnosis and care. Fox pushed through her symptoms of ME for nine years to the point where she now struggles to even read or watch TV without triggering cognitive symptoms. 

“It is imperative that post-COVID patients are believed when they say they are not recovering,” Fox said. “If I hadn’t ignored my body’s warning signs, I don’t think I would be as disabled as I am now.”   

Studies show that when a severe infection sweeps through the population, ME will often follow. 

Studies have shown that symptoms common in ME frequently occur longterm in people who contracted at least two previous coronaviruses, SARS (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21435231) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)(http://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1731).
Likewise, this study on Epstein-Barr virus, Q Fever, and Ross River virus showed that 12% of subjects across the board met ME/CFS criteria at 6 months after clearing the infection (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16950834); and another study of people with mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus) produced similar numbers (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11063953). 20% of patients with West Nile Virus (n=140) met the criteria for ME/CFS six months after tests first returned negative for West Nile, according to this study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25062274).

In addition, COVID-19 is hitting racial and ethnic minorities and those of low socioeconomic status the hardest; yet this demographic is also the least likely to be diagnosed with ME (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15534161) even where they meet the diagnostic criteria. The crisis of care will be magnified in these communities.

“We are not out of the woods, but we also need to be ready for what is coming next,” said Moreau.

Read more about the potential for COVID-19 to cause chronic illness, including ME: https://www.meaction.net/2020/05/10/researchers-expect-covid-19-will-cause-surge-of-chronic-illness-including-me/   

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About #MillionsMissing

#MillionsMissing is an international movement fighting for equality for people with ME,spearheaded by #MEAction. This is our fifth global #MillionsMissing demonstration.  www.meaction.net

#MEAction is an international network of patients and allies empowering each other to fight for health equality for ME.

Stories from the #MillionsMissing: https://www.meaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SMALLFORMAT_98_ProfilesMM2.pdf