Dr. Roger Dodd of the American Red Cross spoke recently at the Zagreb Conference about possible effects of the retrovirus XMRV and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) on the blood supply.
Dr. Dodd laid out a number of possible scenarios. The retrovirus XMRV may be irrelevant to the safety of the blood supply in which case people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can donate blood.
The other end of the spectrum is a very serious scenario indeed. In this scenario the blood supply may well be contaminated already by a potentially dangerous retrovirus.
Dr. Dodd said that the Red Cross needs more information, not least of which would be a reliable test for detecting XMRV and rates of infection in the blood donor population.
"He also provided a list of infections that are putatively associated with CFS. What was impressive about Dr. Dodd’s list was it’s size; it contained enteroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, HHV-6 and 7, B-19 parvovirus, hepatitis C virus, HTLV (DeFrietas), spumavirus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Coxiella Burnetti, Brucella and Toxoplasma."
http://blog.aboutmecfs.org/?p=1637
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people with CFS deserve answers. Imagine being very sick for years and Dr.'s telling you its nothing. Imagine not being able to work, and telling your family you can't get out of bed due to pain and fatigue. People look down upon CFS patients and say its in there head...But now that this is coming out, all of a sudden it may be "dangerous and deadly" I hope this leads to a cure or at least solid treatment.
June 29, 2010 - 2:03pmThis Comment
Good coverage on a critical subject.
June 24, 2010 - 5:26pmIt is believed that XMRV has been in the nation's blood supply for over 30 years. The CDC knew about this but hoped it would "all just go away". Well it hasn't and now the cow is out of the barn.
XMRV is a deadly virus and one that is known to cause an aggressive Prostate cancer. It may also cause CFIDS, other cancers, and diseases. Stay informed! Thanks!
This Comment
I must not be quoting Dr Dodd with this statement: "In this scenario the blood supply MAY WELL BE contaminated already by a potentially dangerous retrovirus". Here is a quote from Dr Harvey Alter:
June 24, 2010 - 2:53pmXMRV and related MLVs ARE IN the donor supply with an early prevalence estimate of 3%‐7%.
Big difference between "MAY WELL BE", and "ARE IN".
This Comment
Sorry, meant to say that YOU must not be quoting Dr Dodd
June 24, 2010 - 2:54pmThis Comment