NEWS/ResearchNews/Research
ME - Blood Donor Warning
Canada - "As of the end of April, 2010, Canadian Blood Services will be deferring donors with a medical history of chronic fatigue syndrome."
*** In other words the Canadian Blood Services will not accept ME/CFS suffers as blood donors!
Canadian Blood Services links:
1. - Indefinite Deferrals
Australia - Red Cross Blood Bank is now apparently not accepting blood donations from ME/CFS sufferers.
UK -Comments by Mrs. Ann Keen the Under-Secretary of State for Health
"People with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), are not able to donate blood until they have fully recovered.
The reasons for this are: first blood donors need to be in good health, and people with ME/CFS often experience a range of symptoms which could be made worse by donating blood; and second, as the cause of ME/CFS are not currently fully understood, people with the condition are deferred from donating blood as a precautionary measure ri protect the safety of the blood supply for patients"
Newsletters
The BMEA's monthly newsletter is offered for free throughout the community - although donations to help produce the newsletter are always welcome. We hope you enjoy reading it!
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ME/CFS Centre
The ME/CFS Centre Online Group and Mailing List is a resource and support centre, located in Second Life, for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. All people with ME/CFS along with their friends and family are welcome to use the virtual Centre to meet other people, browse our resources, or hold gatherings.
If you suffer from ME/CFS and would like to participate in an online study please email Tania Aguila-Way at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
In The News
The Globe and Mail of Friday Oct. 9, 2009 presents an article entitled Virus found in Cancer linked tochronic fatigue written by David Morgan.
It has been reported that a virus linked to prostate cancer and known as XMRV, was found in the blood
of 68 out of 101 chronic fatigue syndrome patients as compared with only 8 of 218 healthy people.
“Judy Mikovits of the Whittemore Pearson Institute in Nevada and colleagues at the U.S. National Cancer Insti-
tute and the Cleveland Clinic emphasized that the finding only shows a link between the virus and chronic fatigue
syndrome, or CFS, and does not prove that the pathogen causes the disorder.
Much more study would be necessary to show a direct link, but Dr. Mikovits said the study offers hope that CFS
sufferers might gain relief from a cocktail of drugs designed to fight AIDS, cancer and inflammation.”
XMRV or xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus is a retrovirus , like the HIV virus that causes
AIDS. XMRV has also been found in some prostate tumours and is also known to cause leukemia and tumours
in animals.
“Dr. Mikovits’ team said further research must now determine whether XMRV directly causes CFS, is
just a passenger virus in the suppressed immune systems of sufferers or a pathogen that acts in concert with other
viruses that have been implicated in the disorder by previous research.”
Not only does this article link CFS to a number of extremely serious and debilitating illnesses but it pro-
vides an accurate list of symptoms as provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. What it means for us, is one more very compelling reason for taking our illness seriously.
Disclaimer:Although the Brockville M.E. Association provides helpful information to members in the form of articles, notices, guest speakers, etc., The Brockville M.E. Association does not give medical advice or endorse specific medical products or treatments. The Brockville M.E. Association assumes no responsibility for any treatment written about on this website or in the newsletter that may be undertaken by its reader. Suffers of ME/FM and other illnesses should always consult their physician for treatment.