Posted on June 9, 2005.
Information on Mismanaged CDC Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Funds
Questioning the CDC
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, CFIDS) community is already aware of what some consider questionable practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, writing in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in his article reprinted on his Web site former congressman and U.S. attorney Bob Barr says that the CDC needs to refocus its “scattershot” approach and redefine its mission. Barr contends that the CDC, whose annual budget is $7 billion of federal taxpayer money, lacks a clearly defined mission. Barr cites credibility problems such as the CDC 2004 reports that there wouldn’t be enough flu vaccine which they later had to admit was based on faulty estimates; in fact, a huge surplus of vaccine had to be destroyed. Barr also cites the CDC’s flawed 2004 report on obesity-related deaths and what he considers the CDC’s questionable ventures into world mental health issues.
In 1995-97, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used millions of dollars charged to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS, CFIDS) research account to cover other, unrelated research programs.
Related Reading:
Book:
Osler’s Web: Inside the Labyrinth of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic
by Hillary Johnson
Osler’s Web: Inside the Labyrinth of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic, the title of which refers to the Canadian physician — Sir William Osler (1849-1919) — who urged his medical students to be on guard against lockstep thinking, is a comprehensive study of the history of how the CDC and medical community handled (or, in many cases, mishandled) the CFS epidemic in the United States. Comparisons are made between the amounts of money spent on AIDS research versus CFS. Hillary Johnson chronicles CFS from the time of the Incline Village (Lake Tahoe, NV) outbreak in the early 1980s. Her research includes interviews with hundreds of patients, scientists, doctors, and government officials
Online:
The CFIDS Association of America’s Report on the CDC Scandal
Co-Cure.org’s Information on the Ongoing Saga of the CDC’s Use of CFS Research Funds
CDC CFS Program Objectives Update
Inspector General’s May 1999 report on CDC’s CFS program (pdf)
GAO’s June 2000 report on CDC’s and NIH’s CFS programs (pdf)
Dr. William Reeves’ “whistleblower” statement
Q&A on Dr. Reeves’ statement
CDC accused of lying to Congress
Overview of CDC’s CFS program
Related posts:
- Sleep Medications for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Resources
- Redefining Slow: A Chronic Illness Realities Comic Strip
- Coping Skills: Special Diets
- Slow Going T-Shirt and Gift Idea Designs
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Pammy is the main character in two comic strips by 
A professional writer since 1984, Pamela Rice Hahn is the author of more than 20 published books.