Alison Hunter Memorial Foundation: Supporting Biomedical Research Into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Sydnrome ME/CFS

Board of Directors:

Susan A. Brookes
Christine J. Hunter AM
Annette C. Leggo BSc
Simon R. Molesworth AM QC

Medical Adviser:

Dr Michael M. Barratt,
MB, BS(Syd), FRCPA

Educational Adviser:

Maureen A. Stephenson, BA
Dip School Admin, MACE

Alison Hunter Picture

Sydney Morning Herald
Medical Editor:
Julie Robotham.
"Alison was suffering terrible physical distress compounded by insults and inhumanity" Read article.

Charles Darwin film "Creation"
Dedicated to Alison Hunter, Emily Chapman, Jenny Hill, Tracey Ash, Casey Fero, and Sophia Mirza and all those whose lives have been devastated by chronic post infection diseases. Read more.

Neurological disorder – ICD 10, G.93.3
World Health Organisation (WHO) 1969

Priority 1 Disease of Public Health Importance
Centers for Disease Control(CDC) 1997

ME/CFS is a broad diagnosis which includes clinical syndromes linked to known infectious agents including Ross River virus, Epstein Barr virus, Q fever, Lyme disease, Parvovirus B19 and toxic exposures such as organophosphates. These syndromes are characterized by neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and myoarthralgic symptoms. Severe forms can present with paresis, seizures, intractable savage headache, and life threatening complications.

The renaming to chronic fatigue syndrome in 1988, giving misplaced emphasis to "fatigue", trivialises the substantial disability of ME/CFS which can extend to the wheelchair or bedbound, requiring 24 hour care.

Strong evidence is accumulating for the role of infection, immune dysregulation and genetic predisposition.

ME/CFS patients are more sick and have far greater disability than patients with cardiac disease, chronic obstructive lung disease and depression
Psychological factors play no role in the development of post-infectious ME/CFS
- US Centers for Disease Control, AACFS Conference 2004