The Canadian, Australian and British governments have all banned ME/CFS patients from donating blood. We, the Think Tank panel of ESME, applaud their actions and believe that a similar ban should be issued in all European countries.
ME/CFS patients should be banned from donating blood for two reasons. The first is to protect the patients: ME/CFS causes a large range of symptoms which could be made worse by donating blood. The second reason is to ensure the safety of the blood supply. The causes of ME/CFS are not fully understood, but it has recently been connected to a new retrovirus: XMRV.
A study from the Whittemore Peterson Institute detected the XMRV retrovirus in over 95% of the more than 200 ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia and atypical MS patients tested. XMRV closely resembles the HIV virus and is thought to be transmitted in similar ways - through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, and breast milk.
Until the connection between XMRV and ME/CFS is fully understood, it is advisable to prohibit blood donations from these patients.
It is important to act now as tainted blood may already be spreading ME/CFS in the population. There are documented cases of onset occurring directly after blood transfusions.
http://www.mefmaction.net/Portals/0/doc ... %20CFS.pdf
We encourage you to contact your government officials and ask them to ban ME/CFS patients from donating blood.
See more: ESME Think Tank Panel Doctors:
- Prof. Dr. Med. Kenny De Meirleir
- Prof. Dr. Bodil Norrild
- PD Dr. Liv Bode
- Prof. Dr. Hanns Ludwig
- Dr. Med. Derek Enlander
- Prof. Dr. Med. Umberto Tirelli
- Prof. Dr. Med. Ola Didrik Saugstad
- Prof. Dr. Med. Babill Stray-Pedersen
- Dr. Med. Ana Garcia Quintana
- Dr. Med. Mette Johnsgaard
