List of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome outbreaks

There have been dozens of documented outbreaks of ME and CFS since the 1930s. Many of these outbreaks occurred at institutions for example, hospitals, schools, army bases or convents. The true number of clusters and outbreaks is likely vastly higher.

History of the name[edit | edit source]

Before the polio vaccine, outbreaks were often observed in towns experiencing polio epidemics, hence one of ME's earliest names, atypical polio. It is not known whether there is a relationship between polio outbreaks and ME or if outbreaks of ME were more likely to be reported when public health authorities were already mobilized for an earlier crisis.

After the outbreak in Akureyri, Iceland in 1946, the disease came to be called "Akureyri Disease" or Icelandic disease through much of the 1940s and 1950s. It was named Myalgic Encephalomyelitis after London's Royal Free Hospital outbreak in 1955.

After the Incline Village outbreak in Nevada in 1984, the disease came to be called and redefined as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Outbreaks by decade[edit | edit source]

1930s[edit | edit source]

1934 - Los Angeles, USA[edit | edit source]

Epidemic among personnel at L.A. County Hospital, Ruth Protection Home and throughout California, paralleling poliomyelitis, often diagnosed as atypical poliomyelitis, sometimes including arthropathy.

1936 - Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, USA[edit | edit source]

An outbreak of "encephalitis" in St. Agnes Convent.

1937 - Erstfeld, Switzerland[edit | edit source]

In less than two weeks, 130 soldiers stationed in Erstfeld, Switzerland became ill with a disease that was attributed to "Abortive Poliomyelitis."^[1]

1937 - St. Gallen, Switzerland[edit | edit source]

Outbreak in the women's section of St. Gall Hospital, Frohburg , Switzerland affecting 28 staff and patients. They were diagnosed with "Abortive Poliomyelitis."Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag^[2]

1976 - Southwest Ireland[edit | edit source]

Reports on Mylagic Encephalomyelits and epidemic neuromyasthenia in this region.

1977 - Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, USA[edit | edit source]

"Epidemic Neuromyasthenia" reported.

1978 - Symposium[edit | edit source]

[Ed. note: Dr. Hyde's text notes that the first major ME symposium was held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in this year. ME aka epidemic neuromyasthenia, viral relationships to this disease, biochemical abnormalities in patients and other subjects were discussed by experts such as Shelokov, Ramsay, Richardson, Behan, Parish and others.^[3]

1979 - Southampton, England[edit | edit source]

Outbreak of M.E. in a girls' school.

1980s[edit | edit source]

1980-81 - West Kilbridge, Ayrshire, Scotland[edit | edit source]

M.E. epidemic reported in a rural medical practice.

1980-83 - Helensburgh, Scotland[edit | edit source]

Coxsackie B outbreak reported in a general practice.

1981-82 - Stirlingshire, Scotland[edit | edit source]

Sporadic cases of M.E. reported.

1981 - Gunnedah, NSW, Australia[edit | edit source]

The Gunnedah outbreak was linked with pesticides, which were conjectured to be interacting with viruses and other environmental chemicals in a post-viral syndrome.^[4] Those affected included one local GP, with that GP forming the view this was clearly a physical illness. The outbreak was featured in a film More than Just Poison made in 1986 by the Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals Committee.^[5]

1984 - Tapanui & West Otago, New Zealand[edit | edit source]

Outbreak first described and an "unexplained illness," later as M.E. Included here are outbreaks in Dunedin and Hamilton New Zealand.

1984 - North America (Endemic)[edit | edit source]

"From 1984 until 1992 [at publication of this text] an endemic period occurred in which an usually large number of cluster and epidemics of M.E./CFS have been recognized in North America. After an apparent initial increase in the morbidity in 1983 there seemed to have appeared in late summer of 1984 an unprecedented increase of sporadic and epidemic cases across North America. Although certain geographical hot spots seen to have taken up much of the medical interest, this endemic situation probably represents an unusual and unremitting morbidity in all areas of the United States and Canada." -Dr. Byron Hyde-

1984 - Incline village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA[edit | edit source]

A chronic illness characterized by fatigue, neurologic and immunologic disorders and active human herpesvirus type 6 infection. This community epidemic, apparently started in a girls' basketball team, then involved primarily teacher in at least three high schools, and then large numbers of the community.^[6]

1984 - Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA[edit | edit source]

"Epidemic amongst members of The North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Low NKC [Natural Killer Cells] associated with high yield of lymphoma, astrocytoma, glioma."

All the members of the N.C. Symphony Orchestra, Chapel Hill, NC got sick. Seven remained ill with chronic fatigue as late as 2009.

A series of studies done in 1988 and 1989 by the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center showed that four the inflicted NC orchestra members who developed cancer had lower levels of activity of natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that can directly kill cancer.