Chronic fatigue syndrome virus link dubious to begin with

Chronic fatigue syndrome, known to affect as much as a million Americans, was linked in 2009 to a virus found in mice in what was considered a breakthrough in the research of this little understood condition.

Two years after, that link has been effectively debunked by two new studies which both say that the virus can't be found in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome after all. Instead, the latest findings as published in the journal Science points to laboratory mistakes for the original virus link.

Back in 2009, researchers in Nevada said they discovered the virus in the blood of chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers which may pave the way for a cure for one of the most enigmatic diseases.

But even then, many other researchers were skeptical of the connection between the virus and the condition because other studies failed to substantiate the claims of the original study.

They now have further proof that it was indeed a mistake to connect it to chronic fatigue syndrome. The XMRV virus found in samples from the first study was said to be identical to the virus that was created by a laboratory experiment ten years ago. It meant that samples that were used in the initial study could have been contaminated that is why the Nevada researchers found it.

"I see right now no good reason to believe that this specific virus actually ever infects humans," said study co-author Dr. John Coffin, a professor at Tufts University and advisor at the National Cancer Institute.

Even if the XMRV virus gets into human blood, scientists say it can easily be destroyed by the body's own defenses and that antiviral drugs should not be taken by chronic fatigue syndrome patients because of inherent dangers associated with such medications.