Thread by @MEActNet

"Millions of people have already developed long COVID; many of them... have not recovered. This is the challenge of chronic illness: When people join its ranks, they do not always exit. With each new case of long COVID, the virus’s burden balloons." theatlantic.com/health/archive…

"To date, experts have yet to find any demographic that has been spared from the condition, despite persistent myths that certain groups, particularly kids, are somehow immune...Every iteration we’ve encountered so far, Omicron included, seems capable of causing long COVID."

"To this day, most countries do not keep a running tally of long-COVID cases. But ballparks of the burden are staggering. Some 2% of all U.K. residents—not just those with documented infections—might currently have long COVID, according to the Office for National Statistics."

"Another analysis estimates that up to 23 million Americans have developed the condition since the pandemic’s start. More will join them. But Davis worries that those numbers will continue to be left off of national dashboards, & thus out of the public eye." @ahandvanish

“You cannot live your life like you used to,” (@ahandvanish) told me. “Your life just becomes this shell.” For individuals, for societies, “this is not going away.” Even after much of the world puts the pandemic in its rearview, long COVID will keep filling hospitals & clinics.

Researchers predict 10%-12% of all COVID-19 patients to develop ME/CFS. A study in The Lancet by the @patientled shows that symptoms of ME/CFS are the main concern for people with Long COVID past six months, including the cardinal symptom of ME/CFS: post-exertional malaise.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis is triggered by infection in up to 80% of cases. Other viral infections have triggered ME in 10-12% of individuals overall. Other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS have led to even higher rates of ME. We knew this was coming & warned our governments.

We continue to mobilize to help in very real ways through our #StopRestPace campaign, the seminar we hosted with @itsbodypolitic for long haulers to learn about ME as a potential diagnosis, the upcoming showing of Unrest & panel discussion w Body Politic, & much more. #LongCovid

In the face of the numbers that represent very real people who have had their lives turned upside down, it can be easy to get discouraged. But we have always known that if we come together we can effect change. We are building on all we have accomplished together. #pwME

Share the message of #StopRestPace: meaction.net/stoprestpace

Share our @unrestfilm screening & panel discussion w @itsbodypolitic on March 20 & 27 : eventbrite.com/e/body-politic…

eventbrite.com/e/body-politic…

Watch the webinar:

Find support: meaction.net/groups