The Committee for
Justice
and Recognition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Why Are The Epidemics So Important?
Community outbreaks of Atypical Poliomyelitis, Epidemic Neuromyasthenia (ENM) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) have been described in the medical journals for many decades. In recent years medical scientists have documented a large amount of ME disease pathology. These findings include involvement of the brain stem and hypothalamus; cardiac, immune system, mitochondria, vascular and metabolic abnormalities, laying open a devastating picture. Nevertheless the most shocking revelation about this disease has been its epidemic explosion: from a rare disease to some 20 million and growing. Thus we must explore the epidemic context of M.E. to gain insight of the history and the danger to our communities and families everywhere.
The outbreak in
The
There were many similar outbreaks of M.E.
over the years. Some were well known,
such as the
The British CMO (Surgeon General) Dr. Donald Acheson authored the major review of this epidemic disease in The American Journal of Medicine, 1959. In the 1960’s M.E. became codified as a neurologic disease at section 323 of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
This same chronic encephalomyelitis infectious disease continued to be reported by many (including Drs. Henderson, Shelokov, Poskanzer, Pellew, Leon-Sotomayor, Richardson, Ryll, Dowsett, Behan and Hyde) throughout the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. This established a continuous record of the disease, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which leaves large numbers permanently disabled.
The M.E. specialist Dr. J G Parish
has identified 63 ME outbreaks, between 1934 and 1990, and also consulted in
the recent
Although M.E. and the outbreaks have been known and described for some time, on the broad landscape of disease M.E. was a rare infection. After the mass polio vaccination programs by the 1960's, polio vastly diminished and cases of M.E. seemed to have decreased as well. Yet by the late 70's an increasing incidence of M.E. had begun. By the early 80's, there were many community clusters and the dramatic worldwide spread of M.E. was in full gallop. For some reason the rare disease, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, had exploded into a worldwide epidemic. Many millions worldwide are now disabled by M.E.
The very alarming and most disturbing aspect of this disease
is that amid this epidemic explosion of disease, the national public health
agencies ignored the pleas from doctors in affected communities and failed to
act. In the
This disastrous response became formal policy when in 1988 the CDC dominated panel renamed this disease “CFS”, against the vehement objections of the specialist physicians with decades of expertise, who advised that what was being observed was a widespread reemergence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. In effect a group of inexperienced government employees invented Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and disregarded the medical experts. Pursuant to this policy to conceal the identity of M.E., medical journals were encouraged to never again publish reports about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis but only articles that discussed fatigue.
Much of this history suggests that the CDC was not following a program to identify disease and cause, but some other directive. Rather than investigating this epidemic, the CDC appears to be acting to cover it up, and has pursued diversions and a plan to avoid discovering the cause. This has proceeded with a clear disregard for the consequences, the many fatalities and the huge numbers of disabled citizens.
Infectious diseases often occur in epidemics and the investigation of epidemics has been the most important tool to discover the nature and origins of disease. This most valuable science has been avoided by health officials regarding the M.E. outbreaks. One of the CDC’s primary duties is to investigate epidemics. But, in fact the CDC has never investigated an M.E. epidemic. Millions of disabled patients deserve to know the truth.
These government agency policies have not advanced the understanding nor have they proceeded to control or prevent the disease, instead the number of patients continues to increase: the public remains in danger. These policies are more consistent with a defensive effort to protect the interests of private industry rather than protect the public. Every person is at risk and the public is entitled to a vigorous program and mobilization of public resources to investigate and proceed to control this epidemic. The public deserves to know the truth.
Clearly, the greatest epidemic of M.E. to ever occur is the recent and ongoing flare-up that began in 1991 among young healthy military personnel. Many thousands from this epidemic have died. This population shares a common exposure. Many fell victim immediately, but the disease has disabled many more over the years. Those ill now include many spouses and occasionally other family members, demonstrating anew the infectious nature of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
M.E. is best understood in context,
with detailed study of the outbreaks.
Even though most cases today are considered sporadic, we also must recognize
that new outbreaks persist and continue to spread disease; this report of the
recent
The Committee takes note that while the CDC takes great
pride, incites headlines and major mass media attention to their heroic pursuit
of any potentially contagious illness outbreak, when it comes to outbreaks of M.E. they decidedly avoid any investigation. The
Our objective is to disclose the truth, the reality and the dangers of M.E., so that the cause and cures can be discovered. Above all we must recognize the danger to families everywhere that unchanged the CDC and MRC malfeasance imposes upon an innocent public. We hope that these comments, the history and the various epidemics reported here will help provide a more complete understanding of the growing devastation that M.E. forces upon the public, and why the epidemics are so important.
The Committee has indications of renewed waves of escalation of M.E., particularly in certain regions. We want to hear from you to help collect any reports of recent or new community outbreaks.
TCJRME
___________________________________________________________________
The Recent
The 1984
New
List of M.E. Outbreaks 1934 – 1990
The Huge Military Outbreak Report
M.E. – similar to Polio virus infection
Comments from International Experts
==============================================
“ epidemic myalgic
encephalomyelitis, also known as epidemic neuromyasthenia,
has attracted increasing attention during the last 5 years, leading to a
clearer definition of its clinical and laboratory features and general
agreement that its distinguishing characteristic is severe muscle fatiguability, made worse by exercise.”
“The illness occurs
both sporadically and in epidemics, with cases being reported from all over the
US, Europe, Australasia, and South Africa. The difficulty in making the
diagnosis, however, usually means that it is not until an epidemic occurs that
random cases that presented in the preceding years are realized, in retrospect,
to have had (M.E.). Single cases may continue to
appear after the epidemic has ended. Thus, it is stressed that the syndrome is
an endemic disease with periodic outbreaks of epidemic prevalence.”
Dr. P.O. Behan,
Prof. Neurology,
Critical Reviews in
Neurobiology, 1988, vol 4.
===========================================================================
M.E.
a Growing Health Disaster
"Within
the group of viral-immunological illnesses common to the temperate world, ME/CFS represents a major world health and economic threat
second only to AIDS. Yet governments persist in turning their backs to this
health disaster. The majority of adult ME/CFS
patients in all countries are teachers, health care workers, clergy, flight
attendants and their immediate families. These individuals are involved in jobs
of high contact with a potentially ill public or a public recently vaccinated
or immunized. They also represent professions that receive more immunizations
& vaccinations.”
“The
cost of their unemployment represents a major loss to the state and to their
community, as well as to their families. It is incredible that governments have
not taken this threat more seriously. Yet there is no national government that
has contributed significant funds to help solve this problem."
Dr. Byron M. Hyde,
The
=============================================
Protect Yourself - Learn
about ME - Educate your doctors - Alert the Public
=============================================
These
reports on the recent
This outbreak has
been selected because it is the most recent community epidemic for which there
is excellent detailed information and where research reports about this
epidemic have been published.
We
are thankful to doctors Anderson, Martin and others
for their vital work by investigating and documenting the Outbreak of Epidemic Neuromyasthenia / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis of 1996-97 in
the Mojave Valley, Arizona. We are
especially thankful since the government health agencies as usual have declined
to investigate or recognize this recent epidemic.
___________________________________
Fatalities among Virus Infected
Patients seen within the Mohave Valley region of the United States
D.
(1)
(2)
Center for Complex Infectious Diseases,
An outbreak of an apparent infectious illness occurred in the
Over the following year, more than 100 additional patients
presented to the
The severity of each of these manifestations differed between patients and even in individual patients over time. Patients often reported that other family members were experiencing some of the same symptoms as they were, but to varying degrees. There was a definite tendency for patients to show a lessening in the severity of symptoms with time and most patients regained much, if not all, of their former health. Many of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In contrast to the relatively benign course of the CFS-like illness in the majority of the patients, several individuals, including family members of mildly affected patients, have experienced over the last several years, severe atypical illnesses, often necessitating hospitalization. Moreover, several fatalities, potentially attributable to a viral encephalopathy, have occurred in stealth virus culture positive individuals.
The clinical
histories, laboratory and radiological findings, of ten fatal cases occurring
within the
Case 1 was a nine year old boy with a biopsy-proven vaculoating (spongiform) encephalopathy. For over seven months, the child was considered to merely have a psychogenic behavioral problem stemming from his parents’ separation and divorce. He then began to show neurological signs, which improved significantly when ganciclovir therapy was begun by his attending neurologist. The child died from cerebral herniation, approximately two years after onset of his illness.
Case 2 died shortly after diagnosis and removal of a glioblastoma multiforme. Virus was cultured from both blood and tumor tissue removed from this individual.
Case 3 developed a normotensive hydrocephalus requiring a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Post operatively, she developed a herpes type eruption on her back along a surgical scar from a prior lumbar disc repair; and also developed what appeared to be herpes-like retinitis. She died following two stroke- like episodes.
Case 4 died with a severe worsening of a previously diagnosed sporadic cerebellar ataxia.
Case 5 was a 17 year old Native American boy who died from an apparent viral cardiomyopathy, accompanied by cognitive problems.
Case 6 died after a prolonged illness in which she sustained multiple cerebral infarcts leading to a chronic vegetative state and coma.
Case 7 had experienced progressive fatigue and cognitive impairment since 1996 and died unexpectedly three years later.
Cases 8, 9, 10 also showed rapid deterioration with the development of severe encephalopathy manifesting primarily as dementia and psychosis. No other precipitating causes for the profound neuropsychiatric illnesses in these three patients were identified, and each progressed to coma and death.
The potential linkage of the illnesses occurring
within these 10 patients to an infectious agent, is supported by i) the positive
stealth virus cultures; ii)
recurring previous episodes of impaired health in many of the individuals
following the 1996 outbreak of an apparently infectious disease in the Mohave
Valley; iii) related although milder
illnesses occurring in other family members of the patients; and iv) the relative rarity of any of these
types of illnesses within the same community prior to 1996.
CFS illnesses have been reported as occurring in
outbreaks, and the
[
Further scientific and technical details are
reported in the medical journal article "Stealth Virus Epidemic in the
===================================================================
The clinical picture of the
Arizona Epidemic
Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis is a complex disease. Individual cases whether sporadic or
epidemic often begin with a severe influenza, a gastrointestinal or meningitic episode, after which the chronic phases set in
with a very great variety of symptoms and secondary conditions. Amid this swarm
of manifestations and variation between individuals, Dr Ramsay, after many
years of study, identified a specific group of symptoms - muscle, brain and
circulatory - to confirm the illness (see the Definitions page). The above
report shows some of the very unfortunate results.
The following records
provide the more common experiences, from actual cases showing the diverse
true-life outcomes. For doctors, unfamiliar with M.E., will find this report truly instructive, while
patients will recognize much of their own nightmares. The various
reports on this site also remind us that there have been many outbreaks and M.E. epidemics continue to reappear to this day. Doctors
seldom receive support when encountering this disease and many clusters have
gone unreported. The epidemics are not a
myth or a legend, nor just history, they are with us today. These reports also
make clear that many patients go on to acquire a variety of consequences. Reports of new outbreaks from
_______________________________________________________________
Case Summaries Section from the article:
Multi System Virus Infection
with Encephalopathy In
Donovan J. Anderson, M.D. of
W. John Martin,
M.D., PhD, of Center for Complex Infectious Disease
Abstract An outbreak of an apparent infectious
illness occurring in the
Case Summaries:
Normotensive Hydrocephalus and viral Eye Infection: * B Q: A 66 year old female with severe
debilitating fatigue, insomnia, headache, vision loss, disequilibrium. MRI showed cerebral atrophy with dilated ventricles. Normotensive hydrocephalus was diagnosed, she was referred
to a neurosurgeon and he inserted a ventriculo-peritoneal
shunt. She came back into the hospital with a blistery rash on her lower back
area and a severely painful right eye. Slit lamp exam showed chroiditis and retinitis and she was diagnosed with a
herpes infection in the right eye. She was started on anti-viral treatment and
did quite well. She did not go blind but she is totally disabled and has to use
a cane for balance. She still has headaches and total body aches along with
severe insomnia and a mild form of dementia.
Acute Delirium associated
with Stealth virus Infection: * T M is a 55 year old
female who was admitted to the hospital with acute delirium. She had nausea and
diarrhea and was having hallucinations of being in a fight with the Devil. She
had a headache and pain mostly on the left side of her body. It was interesting
to note that she developed a neuropathic bilateral
foot pain and she thought some how the devil burned her. Pertinent lab work
revealed 16,000 WBC’s with 81 segs
one band. U/A neg. Blood cultures X 2 were neg. SMAK-20 normal except Ca low
8.6 (8.8-10.5) Protein low 5.7 (6.4-8.2), Albumin low at 2.9 (3.4-5.0), alk phos high at 140, phosphorus
low at 1.9 (2.5-4.5). No history of drug or alcohol abuse, urine drug screen
negative. Prior history of breast cancer surgery 3 years
prior. MRI of the brain showed an unusual
serpentine shaped lesion in the right parietal lobe extending from the parasagittal cortex inferiorlaterally
along the body of the right lateral ventricle through the basal ganglia, deep
to the right sylvan fissure. The lesion does extend somewhat anteriorly in the right parietal lobe into the region of
the right frontal lobe. The lesion is diffuse and amorphous and appears to
include numerous serptiginous structures. Of note,
the lesion does not enhance thus it does not appear to be a metastatic
lesion. The radiologist didn’t know what it was. Possibly an
area of encephalomalacia. The patient had a
lumbar puncture, the opening pressure was 200mmHg. The Gram stain was negative
of organisms, India Ink stain negative for fungal
elements. CSF was clear 0 WBC,
0 RBC’s, protein 25, glucose 56, LDH
27, CSF chloride 121. Bacterial and fungal cultures
were negative. Stealth viral cultures done by Dr. Martin at CCID
were markedly positive in just 2 days, first on the MRC-5 line and then on the
Rhesus Kidney Cell line. Her WBC’s from peripheral
blood was cultured as well and was positive in a similar manner.
Migraine like Headaches
Associated with Stealth Virus Infection and Multiple Syncopal
episodes: * S M is an 18 y/o Caucasian
female who developed Stealth virus infection, after taking care of her father,
who had a rather bad case of the disease himself. The father developed extreme
headaches and insomnia with fatigue and intractable nausea and vomiting and
then became rapidly demented. MRI of his brain showed
a myriad of punctate lesions in the subcortical and periventricular
white mater. He became so forgetful, he would get lost going to the store and
had to stop driving because he would get lost and not be able to find his way
home. His headaches were so bad that he talked multiple times of committing
suicide to be rid of them. He had viral cultures done on his blood and was
markedly positive.
S M developed syncopal episodes leading up to her diagnosis with ENM. She fainted 6-8 times in the year prior to her
diagnosis. She was told at the hospital the reason she passed out so much was
because she was hypoglycemic. On March 27, 1996 she developed what was thought
initially to be chicken pox. She was also pregnant about 3 months along at the
time. Over the next two months she developed dizziness and fatigue and the
beginnings of migraine level headaches. It is of interest to note, that she
developed noticeable weakness on her right side, mostly in her leg. Sometimes
her leg would give out and she would fall. Her baby boy was born about a month
early. He had some complications associated with prematurity
such as polycythemia and jaundice at birth he was
hospitalized for 1 month after birth. He was also hospitalized for 3 days for a
viral like illness at about 3 months of age.
S M now has constant daily
headaches and most of the other signs and symptoms of ENM.
It is also interesting to note that her EBV titers
are all elevated, including the IgM at 231 (0-55) and
it will be interesting to follow the course of the new born boy to see what
signs and symptoms he manifests over the next few years. He had viral cultures
done and was markedly positive with the distinct Mojave effect.
Stroke like Sx and Atypical Seizures Associated with Stealth Virus
Infection: * W J, This is a vignette of a
47 y/o Native American male who developed stroke like symptoms along with
atypical seizure type activity after a bout with a viral gastrointestinal
illness.
The patient comes to the
hospital with acute onset of right-sided weakness. The right side of his face
was drooping including his eye. His hand grip was noticeably weaker on the
right side and his leg was noticeably weaker on his right side as well. He also
had some atypical seizure like activity where he didn’t lose consciousness but
his chin started jerking uncontrollably and his body started jerking around and
lasted about 10 minutes. He was not incontinent of stool or urine. He didn’t
have the usual post ictal period and he could be
"talked" into stopping to a certain degree. Prior to having these
unusual symptoms he had frequent episodes of syncope and severe migraine like
headaches. On his most recent admission, CT scan of the head was done and was
reported out as normal. He also had viral cultures done which were uniformly
positive for the Mohave Stealth Virus effect. He refused lumbar puncture.
This patient has most if not all
the signs and symptoms of CFS or ENM.
He is in generally poor health. He has been a diabetic since age 19. He also
suffers from chronic low back pains due to 2 herniated disks at L4, L5. His
health has deteriorated significantly in the last 2 years to the point where he
is totally and permanently disabled.
He has very unsteady balance,
occasional dizziness; in fact he even had syncope on several occasions and
passed completely out. He has neck pains and sharp pains between his shoulder
blades. He has muscle spasms in the shoulders and neck. He has severe
unrelenting migraine level headaches. He has short term memory loss. He has
calculation difficulties (can’t do serial 7’s) and he has orthostatic
hypotension changes (probably related to his syncope) He has quite severe
insomnia and post exercise fatigue. He has visual difficulties, with blurred
vision and night blindness. He has had some laser treatments to his eyes due to
the diabetic retinopathy. He has photophobia. He has chest pains off and on. He
has episodes of constipation alternating with diarrhea and some nausea. He has
numbness in is his feet consistent with diabetic neuropathy. He has aches and
pains with weakness and fatigue throughout his body. He feels as if he has the
flu, and when he is in flair up, he can’t even get out of bed, the pain is so
debilitating. He also has depression associated with this syndrome. Many of his
symptoms began during the peak of the epidemic in January of 1996 when he had
an acute gastrointestinal illness. It is interesting to note that his wife is
beginning to exhibit similar symptoms.
Atypical MS like symptoms
associated with Stealth virus infection: * V
C, This lady presents like a stroke or Multiple sclerosis type findings. This is a 39 y/o Caucasian female who
presents with abdominal pains, cramping, nausea and bloody diarrhea. GI
ultrasound was negative for cholecystitis. She
developed severe tiredness and fatigue along with migraine type headaches. She
developed sore throats and low-grade fevers. She came into the office with
relatively sudden onset of numbness in the right arm and numbness on the right
side from the neck to the hip area. Her grip by JAMAR
was R-12kg L-20 kg. She was sent to the neurologist who noted that she
developed pain in the right occipital area. She started falling a lot lately
and has poor balance. She also developed weakness in the right arm and leg. She
noted problems with urinary incontinence as well
She had a MRI
done at the suggestion of the neurologist. It found subtle abnormalities
adjacent to the body of the left lateral ventricle. 2 small punctate
hyperintense lesions in the periventricular
area shown on T2 weighted images.
She originally got sick in July
of 1996 with the GI flu like epidemic and she remains sick to this day. In
summary form, these are her symptoms: Severe exhaustion, or fatigue, post
exercise malaise. She has some irritability and some secondary depression. She
has difficulties with sleeping, headaches, and migraine level. Blurred vision,
numbness and tingling with weakness on the right side of her body. She has
severe muscular weakness recurrent sore throats and flu like symptoms. He has
painful nodes under the mandible and suffers from severe allergies. She had the
trigger points associated with fibromyalgia and has
weight gain and muscle spasms. She has diarrhea off and on with some nausea and
has intolerance to bright lights and is many times disoriented and confused.
She had stealth viral cultures done, and they were positive for the Mohave
effect.
Stealth virus infection
associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: * J
B is a 60 y/o Caucasian female who developed an acute onset of chronic fatigue
syndrome or epidemic neuromyasthenia in March of 1996
as a part of the larger epidemic in the Colorado River Valley.
J B came down with the worst flu
of her life on or about March 10, 1996. She developed muscle spasms in her legs
and abdomen and a lot of pain in her legs and feet, to the point where she could
barely walk. She also had sleeping difficulties and heart palpitations. She
also had recurrent sore throats and stomach cramping with diarrhea and nausea.
She also had some headaches that were rather atypical. She noted bright lights
hurt her eyes, especially on the right. She noticed she couldn’t concentrate as
well as before she got sick and this persisted for months after the initial
illness. Her right side became weaker especially the arm and she had some
numbness.
In summary: She has been extremely
fatigued to the point where she can no longer work. She has noticeable post
exercise malaise. She has difficulty calculating in her head. Word finding problems, sleeping difficulty, blurred vision,
atypical headaches, and intolerance to noise or sound. She has noticed
severe muscle weakness and recurrent flu like illness with sore throats and
painful lymph nodes in her neck area. She has noticed more allergies and skin
rashes and she has the trigger points of fibromyalgia.
She gets intermittent diarrhea with intestinal gas and bloating. She gets
low-grade temperatures and has heart palpitations. She has disorientation and
confusion at times and has anxiety/panic, depression and excessive
irritability. She has noticed an alteration in taste and smell, and she also
has some ear pains. Her stealth viral cultures were uniformly positive for the
Mohave effect.
Stealth virus infection
related Fibromyalgia: * S M, This is a 60 y/o Caucasian female who first
developed symptoms after having a terrible case of the "flu" her feet
became painful to the point she could barely walk, She said it was like walking
on gravel or glass. The pain in the feet was so severe that she couldn’t walk
for a time. She also developed arthritis type symptoms and abdominal pains
mostly in the right upper quadrant. Her flu symptoms consisted of nausea
vomiting and diarrhea. She developed fairly severe short-term memory loss
acutely, to the point where she couldn’t work any longer in her job as a clerk
at the DMV. She forgot her password and couldn’t use the computer. She then
developed unilateral weakness on the right side. Documented by JAMAR grip, she is right dominant but her grip on the right
is 15kg and on the left it is 30kg. It is of interest to note that her son who
visited her came down with the same "flu like illness" that lasted a
couple weeks and he too, had extremely painful feet. He has been lost to follow
up. She developed other cognitive function problems. Difficulties
with word finding, attention deficit and calculation problems, balance problems
and spatial disorientation. Along with these findings, she had
difficulty sleeping, severe headaches, blurred vision, anxiety and depression.
She feels like she has a constant flu. She also developed a mass on her right
salivary gland (parotid). She had a biopsy and removal showed pleomorphic adenoma. She also developed all the signs and
symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Her husband got sick for awhile
but he seemed to get over it rather quickly and has just been more tired than
usual. Her Daughter in law came down with an atypical flu like illness as well
around the same time and became depressed and was actually hospitalized in a
mental hospital and diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. Both Sylvia
and her daughter in law tested positive for the stealth virus.
Pertinent lab data reveal HHV6
titers positive at 1:640. CMV titers are positive for
both IgG and IgM. EBV
Stealth Virus
Encephalitis with associated hemiparesis: * T M, This is a 49 y/o Caucasian female who
developed viral encephalitis symptoms. Her encephalitis started with flu like
symptoms associated with a rash and urticaria. She
had Nausea and quite severe vomiting. She then developed a severe atypical
headache with stiff neck and dizziness and aches and pains typical of viremia (bones and muscle aches). The headache was unusual
in that it would hit her 2-3 times per day and the severity would be off the
scale, a 15 on a scale of 1-10. The neck became stiff like she slept on it
funny. She noticed dry mouth, muscle twitching in her face and then developed
numbness in her face and tongue on the right side and left sided weakness
predominantly on the right. She also had numbness on the right. She had word
finding problems and difficulty spelling and difficulty speaking. She would get
confused easily. She had depth perception problems with difficulty going down
stairs for example, infact she even fell down. Her
short term memory was shot and she couldn’t even do serial 7’s and her regular Rhomberg test was positive.
Pertinent lab and x-ray data
revealed a normal CT scan of the head. No masses or ischemic areas were noted. VDRL on CSF was negative. Lyme disease test was negative. Encephalitis panel sent out
was negative for
She had stealth viral cultures
done on her blood that showed uniformly positive Mohave effect. Since she was
one of the first patients we weren’t able to send her CSF
for cultures. It is of interest to note that her husband had about the same
illness minus the encephalitis symptoms and hemiparesis
symptoms. He just had the flu like symptoms.
Acute Stealth Virus
Encephalitis with 6th Nerve Palsy: * V
W, This 68 y/o female presented initially with severe back pain that failed
outpatient treatment. She had a history of breast cancer 14 years prior and it
was felt the pain was so severe, it might be bone metastases. She also had
polio as a child. She was completely worked up with bone scans and x-rays and
CT scans of the back and they all came back negative. She checked herself out
of the hospital somewhat early and had to be readmitted about 1 week later with
full blown encephalitis symptoms.
She presented with severe
atypical headache. She stated that the top of her head was so painful that she
just couldn’t bear it any longer. She also had severe dyplopia,
back pains, leg pains and severe feet pain. She was not in her right mind at
all. She was imagining things that weren’t there, like imaginary cigarettes,
imaginary sewing things etc. She also saw imaginary things in the hospital
also. Her illness started with a GI flu like episode with nausea vomiting and
severe fatigue. Temp was elevated to 103 for a short time. She had an LP done
at the time which was reported out as negative for bacterial infection. Her VDRL and FTA-abs and MHA-TP and RPR were all negative
as well. She had quite significantly elevated Alk Phos over 1000 and the SGOT and SGPT were about double normal. The patient had GI consults
from 2 different gastroenterologists and neither could find an explanation for
the liver enzyme abnormalities. She had CT scans done of the liver, which
showed no abnormalities. She had a previous cholecystectomy
2 years prior (which also didn’t show inflammation or stones). The liver
enzymes returned to normal as her neurologic symptoms
improved.
Neurology consult was obtained
and documented a mononeuropathy multiplex of the 6th
and 7th nerves on the L eye and it would not abduct laterally. She also had
lapses in contact with reality and was rather lethargic. She also completely
lost her ability to balance and in fact for a time could not even walk because
of the severe neuropathic foot pain and balance
problems. Her Romberg was markedly positive. She also had problems with memory
and thinking. Her husband states her mind wanders a lot. She also thought she
had an appointment with her ophthalmologist at the most unusual times.
Physically her most important findings were numbness in both
feet and hands, low blood pressure and some orthostatic changes, severe
back pains and headaches and abdominal pains.
Repeated CT scans were negative
for any signs of brain metastasis or CVA type
findings. An MRI was done and was positive for
multiple punctate lesions in the periventricular
white matter.
Other pertinent lab data reveal
positive cold agglutinins, at 1:128. Rheumatoid factor was negative. CMV IgG - Hi at 4.5, IgM was negative. ANA titers were negative. HHV-6 IgM was negative. IgG on CSF was 17.8 normal 0-6mg/dl. IgM
titer was elevated to 0.7mg/dl (nl ).)) Lyme disease antibodies were
negative. Hepatitis A, B, C, titers were all negative. Mycobacteria
cultures were negative. Serum protein electrophoresis was negative for florescent
antibodies to St Louis encephalitis and Western Equine encephalitis. No
evidence of recent or previous infection. HIV antibody test was negative as
well.
Viral cultures of the blood were
markedly positive for the Mohave Stealth virus. She had an LP done which was
likewise markedly positive for the virus growth.
As an addendum: This lady was seen and examined by the state
health department epidemiologist Bob England MD. She was also examined by Dr.
Gordon Parish of
Stealth Virus Infection
causing ADD and learning disability: * R
H: This is a young 10 year old boy who developed flu like symptoms in March of
1996. This boy had to be hospitalized 11 times in the one year. He had
intractable nausea, vomiting diarrhea, dehydration headaches, dizziness and
balance problems. The last hospitalization, he was unable to walk due to
equilibrium problems. He has had elevated temperatures with delirium. He would
talk about things that didn’t make sense, like there were 2,000 rocks coming
after him and other nonsense type things. He has had some unusual twitching and
jerking while resting but has never lost consciousness.
It is important to note that
prior to being ill, he was doing fine in school and was even on the honor roll
at times. He was at grade level and getting along well. Now after his illness
his concentration and focus has dropped considerably and he has had to go into
special education classes. He was tested at the beginning of the year and he is
at the 3rd grade level when he should be in the 5th grade. Any type of physical
exertion will cause him to flair up and get very tired and ill. He has some
difficulty sleeping due to the twitching and he still gets headaches especially
after activity. It is interesting to note that his illness seems to wax and
wane on a regular basis.
He has been worked up by Phoenix
Children’s Hospital in March of 1997 and they found an enlarged liver, and
spleen and positive Epstein-Barr antibody titers. VCA-IgG 1.03 and VCA-IgM 2.95 H. He was found to have a small hyperintense lesion in the subcortical
white mater on the right temporal area on MRI which
was interpreted to be a cyst. A Lumbar puncture was done and interpreted as
normal even though it had 5 mononuclear cells/hpf and
83% lymphs, 17% mono’s, 1 RBC. Glucose 70 and protein 30 both
normal. Bacterial and fungal cultures were both negative. Stealth virus
cultures were done on the blood and CSF and came out
uniformly positive using tissue culture methods. His peripheral WBC’s were normal at 9.3 and he had 19% neutrophils
and 79% lymphs, 2+ atypical lymphocytes. Sed rate 21, ANA neg, CRP normal,
Pyruvate normal, serum amino acid screen normal,
urine amino acid screen normal. SMAK 20 showed slight
liver enzyme elevation, Alk phos.
178, AST - 58, LDH 387 and protein and albumen both
were slightly low. His health has gradually improved but he is still learning
disabled and in special education classes.
============================================
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Since the 1980’s M.E. has
exploded into a worldwide epidemic
Efforts of
patients and Drs Cheney, Peterson and Komaroff
brought attention to the 1984 outbreak at Lake Tahoe
Major Report on the
Dr Ryll on M.E.,
Causes and 1970’s California Outbreak, see; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/supplement223.htm
Report on Gulf
veterans and the Huge Military M.E. Outbreak see; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/melibrary114.htm
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============================================
Is M.E.
a variant of Poliomyelitis? The similarities Examined
“Beginning
in Los Angeles in 1934 and continuing for >20 years, there were over a dozen
outbreaks of a disease that was at first diagnosed as poliomyelitis, then as
"abortive" or "atypical" poliomyelitis, and finally named
ME. Like poliomyelitis, initial symptoms
of ME included headache, neck pain, low-grade fever, and myalgia
that were often followed by paresis.
Irritability and anxiety, symptoms typical of the encephalitis
accompanying bulbar polio, and even a few cases of post-acute parkinsonism were
seen.”
“These reports (about late onset Polio)
are reminiscent of the symptoms associated with nearly 2 dozen outbreaks during
this century of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), conditions that can be related historically, clinically,
anatomically, or physiologically to poliovirus infections.”
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
28 Sept. 1998;
105(3A):66S
See this very important study; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/melibrary111.htm
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Protect
Yourself - Learn about ME - Educate your doctors - Alert the Public
#####################################################################
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis:
A Record of
Epidemics
Throughout
its history, M.E. has been a chronicle of epidemic
outbreaks. M.E. does occur in epidemics, this
fundamental aspect is essential. This fact
conveys, among other things, the infectious and contagious nature of our
disease. These characteristics of our
disease are strictly avoided by the government health agencies. It could be said that a strategic aspect of
the health agency policies has been to conceal the history of M.E.
An important chapter in the Encyclopaedia of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis contains a very
fundamental disclosure of M.E. by documenting the
outbreaks from 1934 to 1990. This
chapter is the result of work carried out over many years by Drs. Acheson,
Henderson, Shelokov and Parish. We are profoundly grateful to these doctors
and their vigilance over the years to evaluate and classify of these
outbreaks.
1934
1936
1937
1939
1945
1946
1948
1949
1950
1952 England Middlesex Hospital Nurse’s
Home,
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1961
1964
1965
1968
1969
1970
1975
1976
1977
1979
1980
1982
*
"From 1984 until 1992 an endemic period occurred in which an unusually
large number of clusters and epidemics of M.E./CFS have been recognized in
1984
1985
1986
1988
1989
1990
______________________________________________________________
The complete details and references
for all these epidemics can be found in the M.E. encyclopaedia published by the Nightingale Research
Foundation in 1992 as “The Clinical and Scientific Basis of Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”, Hyde, Goldstein, Levine,
Editors. Available from: http://www.nightingale.ca/index.php?target=bookoffer
============================================
“It is thus important that those that attempt
to define any disease or illness to have long term clinical experience with
patients with this illness. There is
simply no place for the bureaucrat in defining illness. All definition of epidemic or infectious
illness must be based upon persistent clinical examination of the afflicted
patient, an understanding and exploration of the environmental factors
producing that illness, and pathophysiological
examination of tissue from those patients.
For similar reasons, I believe that the inclusion of psychiatrists in
the defining of an epidemic and obviously disease of infectious origin, simply muddies the water for any serious
understanding of that disease. The
Byron M. Hyde,
M.D.
Presented at 1998
International ME Conference,
This article explains the epidemic history and
defines the criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and shows M.E. to be very different from the artificial CDC concept
of CFS. This
outstanding commentary on M.E. and CFS is a must read for patients and doctors. See this important M.E.
/ CFS perspective page here; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/supplement202.htm
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Since the 1980’s M.E. has exploded into a worldwide epidemic
Will we ever
know why?
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=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
The Committee for Justice
and
Recognition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
The
M.E. Outbreak in Gulf War veterans; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/melibrary114.htm
Similarities of M.E. and Poliomyelitis; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/melibrary111.htm
M.E. and CFS an important comparison;
http://c4jrme.110mb.com/supplement202.htm
Foundation of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/supplement221.htm
Diagnosis, Metabolism, Neurology, Research; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/melibrary.htm
TCJRME Home Page; http://c4jrme.110mb.com/
Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis
International
Classification of Diseases, ICD 10, G 93.3
=======================================================================
Protect
Yourself - Learn about M.E. -
Educate your doctors
- Alert the Public =======================================================================
http://c4jrme.110mb.com/CurrentTopics3.htm
TCJRME CT
-