| In 2009, "Science Magazine" published a newly | | | | cause or cure, and the XMRV discovery gave the |
| released paper from Whittemore Peterson | | | | estimated 17 millions of sufferers hope for the |
| Institute about the existence of XMRV, (which | | | | first time in many years. |
| stands for xenotropic murine leukemia virus | | | | Now, a year later, the mud slinging has begun with |
| related virus,) which looked to be a causative | | | | small studies that seem designed to do nothing |
| agent in CFS, Fibromyalgia, Prostate Cancer and | | | | more than cast doubt on the original work at |
| several other neuro-immune disorders. | | | | WPI. With the close connections that have been |
| The race was on. | | | | drawn between CFS/ME, Fibromyalgia, RA, MS, |
| All around the world there were doors opened for | | | | Autism, chronic Lyme disease (Oooh, yes we |
| research scientists to apply this remarkable | | | | have been told by the dark robed priests of the |
| discovery and try to find better diagnostic tools, | | | | IDSA that there is no such thing as chronic Lyme |
| better treatment and of course - the great | | | | disease!) by top researchers who have been |
| career maker - finding a cure. | | | | written about elsewhere in this blog, one must |
| Somehow, I am willing to bet that the excitement | | | | question the validity of the mud-slingers, and |
| surrounding the original research had more to do | | | | wonder if continued funding will allow WPI and |
| with the potential impact on prostate cancer | | | | other reputable research firms to solve the |
| patients. | | | | mystery of XMRV - amazingly only the third type |
| Why? | | | | of virus known to mankind at this time. |
| Well, if you aren't familiar with "Osler's Web: Inside | | | | So little is known just yet, but enough for some |
| The Labyrinth of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | | | | medical doctors who are themselves infected with |
| Epidemic", then perhaps you are unaware of the | | | | chronic Lyme to consider jumping ship altogether |
| government scandal that was exposed by author | | | | and dividing Lyme sufferers into those who |
| Hillary Johnson in 1996 proving fraud to the tune | | | | respond to antibiotics - those without XMRV, and |
| of many millions of dollars that had been | | | | those who don't respond to antibiotics, don't have |
| earmarked from Congress to the CDC to | | | | Lyme and have XMRV instead which would |
| research CFS/ME, but had been applied to other | | | | explain quite a bit about the vast differences |
| programs. This involved cooked books and lying | | | | between treatment responses. |
| to Congress amongst many other crimes by an | | | | One such doctor is Jamie Deckoff-Jones, MD who |
| entire division at CDC. | | | | tells her story convincingly at |
| Thankfully those funds have been accounted for | | | | It has been so exciting to think that perhaps |
| and new programs put together under new | | | | XMRV would give chronic Lyme, CFS/ME, |
| management at the CDC. | | | | Fibromyalgia and other chronic illnesses some hope |
| So, up until the announcement last year by WPI, | | | | for future help. But it appears that the baby |
| there had been very few breakthroughs regarding | | | | may be getting thrown out with the bath water. |