Thread by @jenbrea

As the US and many other countries brace for an uptick in new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths due to #COVID-19, here is one other problem almost no one is talking about: long-term chronic illness.

It can often be triggered by a severe viral infection, could be a far more common outcome than death, and yes, afflicts the young.

This study found that of people infected by Ross River Virus, Epstein-Barr Virus, OR Q fever (three completely unrelated infectious agents) 11% met #MECFS criteria six months later ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16950…

The only predictor of developing long-term symptoms was the severity of the initial infection.

We (in the #MECFS community) have watched over the years the post-Ebola syndromes, the enteroviral outbreaks, and see all the people who survive but are left dealing with long-term sequalae.

It could happen with #COVID-19

It must be tracked and counted, too.

So if you are in your 20s or 30s, not disabled or chronically ill, and think you are bulletproof (like I did), remember that infections can do so many more things to your body than kill.

And for the sake of all people out there who ARE disabled or chronically ill, of any age, for the love of God, do your part to keep us safe.

I have a 30-something friend with ME who went from mild and working to severe and homebound this year in the blink of an eye, just from the common flu.