Myth: Long COVID is entirely different from ME.

Fact: Many Long COVID patients have symptoms that match ME.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have found that a large number of people with persistent Long COVID meet the diagnostic criteria for ME. Many experience PEM, the core symptom of ME. Studies highlight the biological similarities between the two diseases, reinforcing the need for integrated research and clinical approaches for these two conditions as well as other post-infectious syndromes.

When the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic began, disability advocates sounded the alarm: acute viral infection leads to chronic illness in a significant number of individuals. Dr. Fauci repeatedly warned of the risk patients would develop myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Like many other neurological diseases, up to 80% of cases of ME/CFS are initiated by infection. Several preliminary studies are now showing that nearly half of people with Long COVID have ME/CFS.

Infection-associated chronic illness is nothing new. Yet despite its high prevalence and severity, research and clinical care into ME/CFS lags behind the times. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can easily access the information they need to make the best possible decisions for the health of their families, patients, and for their own well-being.