Why has ME/CFS Research Stalled for Four Decades?
The troubled history of scientific ineptitude and patient suffering—AMERICA’S BIGGEST COVER-UP: Chapters Three & Four
In 1988, I began covering the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic—now referred to as ME/CFS in government documents and elsewhere—weekly at the New York Native newspaper. In 1992, I drew upon those weekly columns to write a book—America’s Biggest Cover-Up: 50 More Things Everyone Should Know About The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic And Its Link To AIDS. It was published by TNM, Inc., the owner of the New York Native, as well as St. Martin’s Press in New York; in Japanese by Shindan-to-Chiryo, and in French by Les Editions Logique.
Fast forward to 2021, when I learned that the British medical journal Healthcare had published a special edition devoted to severe and very severe ME/CFS. I was stunned by how little progress had been made in the preceding 29 years.
The 2022 Kindle edition of America’s Biggest Cover-Up: 50 More Things Everyone Should Know About The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic And Its Link To AIDS, Updated 2nd Edition contained not only the text of the original manuscript but also a new introduction. Each week (or so), I will publish a new chapter or section for the paid subscribers to The Real AIDS Epidemic.
This is the fourth of those sections.
Chapter Three
HHV-6 Kills an Important Immune System Cell in AIDS and CFS Patients
Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) was first discovered in people with damaged immune systems who had cancer or AIDS. However, when studies showed that the virus seemed to infect about 90 percent of the world’s population by age three, HHV-6 was generally portrayed by scientists as a fairly harmless virus.
Personally, at least in my case, I believe that what virologist Elaine DeFrietas found back in 1990 (an 'HTLV-2 like' virus) is the real cause of ME/CFS (aka non-hiv aids). The CDC would not follow her exact protocol for the testing and refused to work with her side by side. She has a detailed patent on her testing and has detailed and documented test results. Who can possibly refute this? The sad news is that absolutely no one is trying to reproduce this, especially in those ME/CFS persons that have immune deficiency. The Incline Village / other individuals who were tested by DeFrietas had low antibodies and immune deficiency. Why hasn't this been further researched by anyone?????