The devastating effects of Long Covid are now being realised around the world.
Researchers, clinicians and governments are waking up to the urgent action needed to offer science-backed treatment to the estimated ten percent of people who contract Covid-19 but don’t recover in a short time – those suffering from Long Covid. Some of those have ongoing organ problems, such as lung and heart damage, but many of these suffer from symptoms similar to ME.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
There is one community who knows that there is nothing new about the long-term consequences of infection. Before people came down with Long Covid there were already
millions around the world, made up of individuals who got sick from infection and never recovered.
They are those people who have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a severely debilitating condition that affects millions of people across the world.
#MillionsMissing
MEAction is an organisation that fights for the #MillionsMissing who have ME.
To highlight this fight, on 12th May 12th, MEAction will hold #MillionsMissing events, calling for governments to urgently respond to the ever growing crisis of ME since there will be millions more after Covid -19.
The ME community is growing
Sadly, as the UK sees rapidly growing numbers of sufferers of Long Covid who are experiencing ME-like symptoms, the ME community is growing.
A large body of research shows that long-term illness and disability can be triggered by viral infections. Up to 80 per cent of cases of ME are initiated by an infection. Research has shown that viruses ranging from influenza and glandular fever to Ebola, have caused ME in patients. Now, the majority of people with Long Covid are reporting symptoms that resemble ME/CFS, most notably post-exertional malaise, a worsening of symptoms after exertion.