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===No clear evidence that ME/CFS is contagious=== [[:Category:Infectious agents|Infectious episodes]] have led to [[List of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome outbreaks|outbreaks]] over the years and 72% of ME/CFS patients report an [[Onset of ME/CFS|onset]] of a viral or bacterial infection.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.cdc.gov/grand-rounds/pp/2016/20160216-presentation-chronic-fatigue-H.pdf | title = CDC Public Health Grand Rounds - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Advancing Research and Clinical Education | last = | first = | author-link =| date = |website=cdc.gov | page = 6|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Nowadays, the vast majority of ME/CFS cases are sporadic rather than epidemic - although some outbreaks have been caused by known viruses such as the [[2003 Hong Kong outbreak|SARS pandemic]] and [[2019 Coronavirus pandemic outbreak|COVID-19]] - there is no clear evidence that sporadic ME/CFS cases are contagious.<ref name="pediatricprimer">{{Cite journal | last = Rowe | first = Katherine S. | last2 = Vallings | first2 = Rosamund | last3 = Stewart | first3 = Julian M. | last4 = Speight | first4 = Nigel | last5 = Schwartz | first5 = Malcolm S. | last6 = Medow | first6 = Marvin S. | last7 = Gurwitt | first7 = Alan | last8 = Friedman | first8 = Kenneth J. | last9 = Underhill | first9 = Rosemary A. | date = 2017 | title = Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis and Management in Young People: A Primer |url = https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2017.00121/full|journal=Frontiers in Pediatrics|language=English|volume=5|doi=10.3389/fped.2017.00121|issn=2296-2360}}</ref> Families, partners, and friends do not report contracting ME/CFS from someone with the disease nor do patients report passing it on to others.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://forums.prohealth.com/forums/index.php?threads/is-cfs-contagious.189664/ | title = Is CFS contagious? |website = ProHealth Forums|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> However, [[Rosemary Underhill|Underhill]] and O'Gorman (2006) researched 219 patients with ME/CFS, and concluded that close household contact and genetics were both risk factors for CFS, finding 3.2% of spouses/partners of those with CFS also had the illness.<ref name="UnderhillInfectious">{{Cite journal | last = Underhill | first = Rosemary A. | last2 = O'Gorman | first2 = Ruth | date = 2006-01-01 | title = Prevalence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Within Families of CFS Patients | url = https://doi.org/10.1300/J092v13n01_02|journal=Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome|volume=13|issue=1|pages=3β13|doi=10.1300/J092v13n01_02|issn=1057-3321}}</ref> This was a higher prevalence than all genetic relatives except children of patients. Because ME/CFS can run in families, a [[Genetics of chronic fatigue syndrome|genetic link]] is a line of research recommended by the CDC.<ref name="causes" /><br /> [[Michael Sikora]] and collaborators at the [[Open Medicine Foundation]] hope that their research on the role of [[T cell]]s and immune-related [[Genetics of chronic fatigue syndrome|genes]] will help address "whether ME/CFS is an autoimmune or infectious disease, or simply an activation of the immune system".<ref name="omf-funded">{{Cite web | url = https://www.omf.ngo/2018/06/04/omf-funded-research/ | title = OMF funded research | date = Jun 4, 2018 | website = [[Open Medicine Foundation]]}}</ref> ====Blood donation and organ transplant==== A [[Blood donation|tissue and blood donation]] ban is in force for ME/CFS in the [[United Kingdom]] (even if recovered),<ref name="BloodUK">{{Cite web | url = https://my.blood.co.uk/KnowledgeBase | title = Knowledgebase|website=My Donor Record - Health, Eligibility & Travel | last = | first = | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2021-10-08}}</ref> [[Australia]],<ref name="donate">{{Cite web|url = https://www.donateblood.com.au/faq/chronic-fatigue-syndrome |title=Chronic fatigue syndrome β I have/had chronic fatigue syndrome. Can I donate?|access-date=2022-05-25|website = Australian Red Cross}}</ref> [[New Zealand]],<ref name="NZBlood">{{Cite web |url = https://www.nzblood.co.nz/become-a-donor/am-i-eligible/detailed-eligibility-criteria/ | title = Detailed Eligibility Criteria|access-date=2022-05-25 | date = |website=NZ Blood|quote=}}</ref> most of [[Canada]],<ref name="Wilson2014">{{Cite journal | title = The Use of Preliminary Scientific Evidence in Public Health: A Case Study of XMRV | date = 2014-04-08 | url = https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001623|journal=PLOS Medicine|volume=11|issue=4| pages = e1001623 | last = Wilson | first = Kumanan | last2 = Atkinson | first2 = Katherine | last3 = Keelan | first3 = Jennifer|language=en|doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001623|pmc=PMC3979645|pmid=24714396|issn=1549-1676}}</ref> and for a time also in the [[United States]],<ref name="post">{{Cite web | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/12/red_cross_bars_chronic_fatique.html | title = Red Cross bars chronic fatigue patients from donating blood | last = Stein | first = Rob | authorlink = | date = Dec 3, 2010 | website = Washington Post|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> initially due to the research on [[Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus|XMRV]] as being the likely infectious trigger of CFS<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.meassociation.org.uk/2010/04/xmrv-testing-in-the-uk/ | title = XMRV testing in the UK | last = | first = | author-link =| date = 2010 | website = [[ME Association]]|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> and showing that patients carried the virus.<ref name="post" /> Two papers on XMRV were retracted as the result was caused by laboratory contamination,<ref name="Redaction2012">{{Cite journal | date = Dec 2012 | title = Redaction, retraction and reaction | url = https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro2928|journal=Nature Reviews Microbiology|language=en|volume=10|issue=12 | pages = 799|doi=10.1038/nrmicro2928|issn=1740-1534}}</ref><ref name="transfusion">{{Cite web | url = https://transfusionnews.com/2012/10/05/multicenter-study-finds-no-correlation-between-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-xmrv/ | title = Multicenter Study Finds No Correlation between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and XMRV|website=transfusionnews.com|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> but many blood donation bans remain.<ref name="Wilson2014"/> The US American Red Cross no longer has statements barring transfusions or transplants for CFS,<ref name="redcross">{{Cite web | url = https://www.redcrossblood.org/faq.html#eligibility-health|access-date=2019-02-13 | title = Frequently Asked Questions | date = | last = | first = | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|website=American Red Cross|quote=Your search for "Chronic fatigue syndrome" returned no results.}}</ref> but patients are expected to be in "good health" which would exclude most.<ref name="redcross"/> The American Association of Blood Banks advises to either accept or defer ME/CFS donors based on "clinical judgment of the donor's health status".<ref name="AABBOct2012">{{Cite web | last = American Association of Blood Banks | url = https://www.aabb.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/regulatory/eid/xmrvfactsheet.pdf?sfvrsn=cd162fa3_2 | date = October 2012 | title = Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus (XMRV) and other Polytropic Murine Leukemia Viruses (pMLV)|pages = 3 |quote=An updated AABB Association Bulletin #12-05 (November 2012) states that individual collectors of blood and cellular therapy products should accept or defer donors with a history of CFS based on their clinical judgment of the donor's health status.|access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref> Patient charities discourage ME/CFS patients from donating blood,<ref name="MassBlood2015">{{Cite web | url = https://www.massmecfs.org/research/recent-research/19-xmrv/237-aabbs-recommendation-on-cfidsme-and-blood-donation | title = AABB's recommendation on ME/CFS and blood donation | date = Nov 25, 2015 |website=[[Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association]]|access-date=2022-05-25}}</ref>
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