Wayne
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How Many Retroviruses Are There ?
Well, I'm a little confused. Not the first time. I thought I had read that there are only 4 retroviruses known; HIV, HTLVI, HTLVII, and now XRMV. But Dr. Klimas seems to be stating some things that are completely contrary to my own understanding.
RE: """... the horror and anguish of those that might have thought that it might be as debilitating as H.I.V., as well as the dread of the thought of potentially passing it on to another person."""
I'm a little surprised by this statement. It seems a lot of people with ME/CFS (which might be caused by XMRV), are in a lot worse shape than people infected with HIV but are able to control it with anti-retroviral drugs. Seems many with HIV are able to live pretty normal lives. Not many with ME/CFS that I know of live normal lives.
Also, I'm concerned, and I would think researchers should be concerned about transmission, and certain safety precautions should probably be taken until we know more. Specifically, I think there should probably be some immediate steps taken to safeguard the nation's blood supply. If 4% of the general population is infected with XMRV, it seems like somebody receiving blood has about a 1 in 25 chance of becoming infected with it (if it is indeed transmitted by blood, which would seem likely to me). From what I've learned about XMRV, I would be hesitant to accept a blood donation unless it was absolutely critical.
Which brings up a whole other topic of why our nation's blood supply is not sterilized with ozone. My understanding is that ozonating blood can safely sterilize blood of all viruses. But like I say, a whole other topic.
I believe Dr. Mikovitz (sp) believes that in order to become infected with XMRV, we need to have certain predispositions (genetics being one) to allow it to happen. I seem to remember she thinks it is likely that it is much more difficult to transmit that HIV.
Well, a few thoughts, perhaps somewhat rambling. I'm not sure if they're very coherent or not.
Wayne
This comment was found in the interview with Dr. Klimas that was posted on the NYtimes site followin the original article and I think it needs repeating. Here is a link to the interview -
http://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/readers-ask-a-virus-linked-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
"What angers me is that the comparison to H.I.V. is completely out of context; there are many retroviruses that are not known to cause any pathologies at all comparing it to the one that is most well known and feared is simplistic and quite simply wrong. We should not forget that retroviruses have been common through out human history...
... the horror and anguish of those that might have thought that it might be as debilitating as H.I.V., as well as the dread of the thought of potentially passing it on to another person."
---
Thoughts?
Well, I'm a little confused. Not the first time. I thought I had read that there are only 4 retroviruses known; HIV, HTLVI, HTLVII, and now XRMV. But Dr. Klimas seems to be stating some things that are completely contrary to my own understanding.
RE: """... the horror and anguish of those that might have thought that it might be as debilitating as H.I.V., as well as the dread of the thought of potentially passing it on to another person."""
I'm a little surprised by this statement. It seems a lot of people with ME/CFS (which might be caused by XMRV), are in a lot worse shape than people infected with HIV but are able to control it with anti-retroviral drugs. Seems many with HIV are able to live pretty normal lives. Not many with ME/CFS that I know of live normal lives.
Also, I'm concerned, and I would think researchers should be concerned about transmission, and certain safety precautions should probably be taken until we know more. Specifically, I think there should probably be some immediate steps taken to safeguard the nation's blood supply. If 4% of the general population is infected with XMRV, it seems like somebody receiving blood has about a 1 in 25 chance of becoming infected with it (if it is indeed transmitted by blood, which would seem likely to me). From what I've learned about XMRV, I would be hesitant to accept a blood donation unless it was absolutely critical.
Which brings up a whole other topic of why our nation's blood supply is not sterilized with ozone. My understanding is that ozonating blood can safely sterilize blood of all viruses. But like I say, a whole other topic.
I believe Dr. Mikovitz (sp) believes that in order to become infected with XMRV, we need to have certain predispositions (genetics being one) to allow it to happen. I seem to remember she thinks it is likely that it is much more difficult to transmit that HIV.
Well, a few thoughts, perhaps somewhat rambling. I'm not sure if they're very coherent or not.
Wayne