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Note: This article includes our follow-up suggestions regarding its implications for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

Medical science may be just a few research steps away from cracking the secret of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), according to news from [an association for CFS]. Bottom line, states this association's Medical Committee: “Parainfluenza Virus-5 plays what [we see] as a predominant and primary role in the development of CFS.”

This is news that an association for CFS believes can “change the very nature of this disease.” CFS has been an unexplained ailment, characterized by chronic debilitating fatigue and a combination of flulike symptoms.

Virus in the Cross-Hairs

Independent research and detective work funded by an association for CFS has confirmed evidence of a “previously undetected” viral infection in patients with CFS. The research “dovetails” with work by virologists at the private biotechnology research firm Cryptic Afflictions, LLC. It also builds on years of this association for CFS's sleuthing for clues in the work of dozens of scientists around the globe, both published and held proprietary.

This association for CFS defines the CFS culprit as a strain of the recently named Parainfluenza Virus-5 (PIV-5); formerly called Simian Virus-5, or SV5, owing to its initial isolation in monkey tissue. It is an RNA virus, or “rubulavirus” in the category of viruses known to be associated with diseases such as mumps, encephalitis, and meningitis. And, as an RNA virus, it might be a mutating “chameleon.” At least a dozen strains of mumps virus have been identified, for example.

It is further defined as a "zoonotic" virus - one that in mutating can be transmitted between animals and people. And, at least as found in an initial CFS patient test performed by an association for CFS's-funded researchers, it exactly matches the “SER” strain of PIV-5 virus isolated in diseased swine by German researchers in 1994.

The Research-Detective Story So Far

Scientists funded by the association identified a new viral “footprint” in the blood of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients, in the form of a deficiency of the Stat-1 protein, which “plays a vital role in immunity.” The researchers then created a “short list” of viruses known to “directly attack and degrade the Stat-1 protein” as part of a viral strategy for evading the host’s immune response. PIV-5 was on that list.

Meanwhile, they learned that Steven Robbins, MD, a virologist and CEO of Cryptic Afflictions, LLC, had tested blood samples from 56 CFS patients, and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 11 CFS patients, for antibodies specific to an RNA virus he calls “Cryptovirus.” Dr. Robbins found that the vast majority (96 percent) of his CFS blood samples and 91 percent of the CFS spinal fluid samples tested positively for “Cryptovirus-specific” antibodies.

This association for CFS also learned that a recent medical journal article suggests Cryptovirus “is most similar to PIV-5” – and that Cryptic Afflictions has “extensive U.S. and international patents pending and owns the intellectual property rights” for Cryptovirus, according to a report from its parent company, Century Pacific Financial Corp.

Dr. Robbins also found that the Cryptovirus could “cause virtually identical disease in experimentally-infected animals,” according to Century Pacific. Further, he found that “nucleotide sequence data indicate that the virus is pandemic and represents a single virus ‘species’ more akin to measles virus than hypervariable viruses like HIV.”

In addition to the Cryptovirus’s association with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Cryptic Afflictions reports it is also believed implicated in other neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis and idiopathic (unexplained) epilepsy. For example, the company reports it found Cryptovirus antibodies “in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of over 90 percent of patients tested with multiple sclerosis.”

Next Steps for CFS Research?

At a minimum, Century Pacific says Cryptic Afflictions is now pursuing tests of brain lesions in multiple sclerosis patients, and next plans to ask the FDA for approval of the diagnostic tests. Their testing plans for CFS seem to be unstated.

The involved association for CFS, meanwhile, reports it is working to get this information out to “medical and health groups that may be interested in further research,” and says it is “interested in funding those researchers who have expertise in the area.”

This association for CFS is an all-volunteer patient organization with no paid employees, and is funded solely by individual donations for the primary purpose of funding CFS research.

To review a a highly detailed, sourced report on the detective work, search online for “Parainfluenza Virus-5: A new paradigm and a serious host challenge.”

What does this mean for you?

1. Clearly, this and further research that may establish Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a pathogen-triggered disease would lend medical validity to the condition.

2. Further, increasing knowledge regarding this virus or viruses may lead to preventive measures such as vaccines and epidemic surveillance, and/or effective treatments.

3. This news underscores the importance of contributions to CFS research. We at Pro Health are proud to report that as a patient-owned company we have raised and donated more than $2.5 million to CFS and Fibromyalgia research to date, and contribute a portion of all our product sales to this cause.