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/docs//Blood%20Transfusions%20and%20CFS.pdf
We encourage you to contact your government officials and ask them to ban ME/CFS patients from donating blood.
See more:
USA: http://www.aabb.org/Content/News_and_Media/Statements/statement021710.htm
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
ESME.com is designed, developed and hosted by Norsk Kunde & Medlemsutvikling