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1961 New York State outbreak
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An [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis|outbreak]] in a convent in New York affected 26 of 69 nuns.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal | last = Albrecht | first = Robert | date = March 21, 1964 | title = Epidemic Neuromyasthenia Outbreak in a Convent in New York State | url =https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14100144 | journal = Journal of the American Medical Association | volume = 187 | pages = 904-907|via=}}</ref> The first case had onset in July, 1961, the last in January, 1962. == Symptoms == [[File:Distribution of symptoms in the 1961 New York state outbreak.png|thumb|Distribution of symptoms in the 1961 New York state outbreak<ref name=":0" />]] * fatigue * weakness * low-grade fever * nausea * headache * pain in neck, trunk or limbs * emotional instability * depression * impaired thinking * blurred vision * localized weakness, muscular twitching and [[Paresthesia|paresthesias]] == Findings == * low-grade fever * elevated [[Cerebrospinal fluid|spinal fluid]] cell counts, * high [[lymphocyte]] count in the peripheral blood * elevated [[erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] * increased urinary [[creatine]] excretion during periods of exacerbations (creatine was high high during relapses and normal during periods of recovery) == Epidemiology == The convent was largely isolated from contact with the outside world. Thirty-eight percent became ill, with younger nuns more commonly affected. Of nuns under age 30, 57% were affected as compared to 7% of nuns over age 30. None of the elderly nuns (age 65 up) who resided in the "infirmary" and had very little contact with younger nuns were affected. <ref name=":0" /> ==Course & prognosis == "The illness lasted for weeks or months and characteristically was marked by remissions and relapses. Many convalescent patients were forced to take to bed and had exacerbations at the time of their [[Menstrual cycle|menstrual periods]] or when they attempted to return to normal activity."<ref name=":0" /> Thirteen months after onset of the first case, 12 patients remaining in the convent were examined using functional muscle testing developed for the 1954 trial of [[poliomyelitis]] vaccine, only one was completely normal. 11 had scattered weakness of a mild degree. By June, 1962, one year after onset of the epidemic, 9 nuns had recovered, 1 had almost recovered, 13 were still ill, and 3 had transferred elsewhere. == See also == * [[Epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis]] * [[List of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome outbreaks]] == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:History]] [[Category:Outbreaks]] [[Category:Outbreaks in the 1960s]] [[Category:Outbreaks in the United States of America]]
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