Human Herpes Virus 6: A New Public Threat?
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/viruswithin_000308_regush_chat.html
March 8 — Doctors thought Fred either had Legionnaire's Disease or AIDS. Janet, a woman from Oklahoma, suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome. Yoshizo, a 3-month-old Japanese baby, was rushed to the hospital with jaundice from roseola, a common childhood condition. What do these people have in common?
In Nicholas Regush's new book, The Virus Within, he tracks a shadow virus that some medical researchers say may be connected to conditions ranging from chronic fatigue syndrome, to AIDS, to multiple sclerosis. The virus is called Human Herpes Virus 6 and apparently lives dormant within 90 percent of the population. As we age, our resistance to this virus may lessen.
Author and award-winning medical journalist Nicholas Regush joined us today in an online chat. A transcript of the chat follows.
Moderator
at 2:33pm ET
Welcome
to our live chat with ABCNEWS.com columnist Nicholas Regush, author of
the new book The Virus Within. Nicholas, thanks for being here today.
Nicholas
Regush at 2:34pm ET
Hello.
Glad to be here.
Moderator
at 2:35pm ET
Nicholas,
what hard evidence do you have that chronic fatigue syndrome, AIDS and/or
multiple sclerosis are associated with Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6)?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:36pm ET
Evidence
from the lab of Don Carrigan and Konnie Knox and their published research
shows that HHV-6 is active in these illnesses. This virus has the powerful
potential to damage cells.
Moderator
at 2:36pm ET
Deane
asks: Do you think HHV-6 is a major public health threat? Do you think
there may be other strains of HHV-6 other than A and B?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:38pm ET
Yes,
I believe HHV-6 may well be a major public health threat. I have never
come across a virus that has such a profound ability to damage key immune
system cells. Many other strains of this virus may turn up, but a huge
amount of well-funded research will be necessary before a clear picture
of just how much of a threat this virus will become, and how soon.
Ray
Jones from adubn1.nj.home.com at 2:38pm ET
If
the virus is dormant in (up to) 90% of us, where did it come from?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:39pm ET
One
form of HHV-6 that we know of, namely variant-B, likely comes to us by
way of an infection from the mother early in life and then in some cases
can cause illness in children — some as severe as thrashing the entire
body. In most cases, it seems to become part of the viral baggage that
we carry until immunity drops and it becomes reactivated.
Lionel from usbnc.org at 2:40pm ET Is HHV-6 contagious? If so, how is it spread?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:41pm ET
It's
likely that one or more forms of HHV-6 could spread periodically from person
to person because when this virus awakens it can begin shedding and can
be potentially transmitted via saliva. But we don't have good knowledge
of transmission, namely again because federal funding is so ridiculously
low for HHV-6 research.
Robert
at 2:41pm ET
How
do I know if I am infected with the active virus?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:42pm ET
There
is no standard test for HHV-6, partly due to lack of government funding
interest in this entire area. Researchers like Konnie Knox and Don Carrigan
of Milwaukee have developed a research-based test that can determine if
there is active HHV-6 in the body. This test is being used in studies of
multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue and AIDS.
Levi
at 2:42pm ET
Is
there a way for physicians to monitor the progress of the virus?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:44pm ET
Again,
Carrigan and Knox are working with physicians who are closely monitoring
the relationship between treatment (say, in multiple sclerosis) with symptoms.
Preliminary data show that there is a good correspondence between symptoms
in MS when the virus is active. Similar research is being monitored with
chronic fatigue patients.
Moderator
at 2:44pm ET
Kim
Hilt asks: Why does resistance to this virus lessen with age?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:45pm ET
This
issue is not entirely clear but antibody studies suggest that the immune
system might lessen its hold on HHV-6 as we age; this might be due, in
part, to the development of diseases that affect the body's immunity.
Moderator
at 2:45pm ET
Jim
asks: Are there any treatments effective against HHV-6 ?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:47pm ET
The
main area of research now going on involves Knox and Carrigan and Dr. Jim
Brewer in Kansas City; they are looking at the effectiveness of anti-herpes
virus medication in patients with multiple sclerosis. Early signs are encouraging
but a lot more work needs to be done. Also, there are lab studies that
show anti-herpes medications might have a neutralizing effect on the virus.
But clinical studies must be done before anyone reaches a conclusion about
this.
Mike
at 2:47pm ET
What
are the implications for those who already have another strain of herpes?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:48pm ET
Good
question. But here again, due to lack of funding in this area, there is
not much to go on. It is apparent that herpes viruses can interact with
one another, one reactivating another. But don't jump to conclusions here
either because there is a lot going on in the body's internal environment
that requires careful study before we understand how any combination of
viruses may attack key cells.
Mary
E. from proxy.aol.com at 2:49pm ET
Mr.
Regush, has there been a response from the medical/medical research community
to your book?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:50pm ET
Typically,
anything that is new gets shunned. This book is already having an impact
on the general public and it will force the medical community — particularly
those in charge of government funding — to take notice. I also expect some
congressional activity in this area sometime this year. Medicine crawls
like a bug.
Moderator
at 2:50pm ET
Jean
B. asks: Why is funding for HHV-6 research such a low priority?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:52pm ET
Back
in 1986, Robert Gallo — co-discoverer, sort of, of HIV — declared that
he had discovered HHV-6. He touted it to the medical community as an important
virus that could likely play a role in AIDS. No one wanted to hear about
this, because so much money was headed to HIV. To this day, HHV-6 has been
shunned because many scientists just don't bother to read the medical literature.
Konnie Knox and Don Carrigan have published their work in numerous major journals including the New England Journal of Medicine. It's time that sleepy AIDS researchers got a kick in the you know what and started to do some homework. Ditto for MS researchers.
AdrienneGomez
from proxy.aol.com at 2:52pm ET
What
was the first indication that this virus might be implicated in so many
dieases?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:54pm ET
The
first red flag came from Bob Gallo at the National Cancer Institute. He
said it killed cells in the lab more efficiently than HIV. Next, Carrigan
and Knox showed how powerfully HHV-6 could reactivate in bone marrow transplant
patients. They have continued to show this in patients with marrow problems,
CFS, AIDS, and likely will show active V-6 in other diseases they are examining.
DrChet
from ght.iadfw.net at 2:54pm ET
Isn't
it a bit premature, and irresponsible, to blame this single virus for all
these ailments? These patients may well be suffering from other immune
problems that allow virus levels to increase, in an innocent bystander
fashion, while not being related to there primary disease (except for roseola,
of course).
Nicholas
Regush at 2:56pm ET
Remember
the phrase - read my lips. Then read carefully. I never said this virus
is responsible for all these diseases. That's certainly not what the literature
says and not what my book says.
My book documents the painstaking and extremely well-published research that indicates HHV-6 shows signs of being INVOLVED in certain diseases. I wish that the medical community — or some people in it — would stop making dumb generalizations about statements that innovative thinkers make on key issues.
Ray
Jones from adubn1.nj.home.com at 2:56pm ET
If
HHV-6 is part of the 'viral baggage that we carry,' does this imply that
viruses are never killed, just kept under control by our immune system?
Nicholas
Regush at 2:57pm ET
We've
evolved with microbes. We even carry remnants of ancient infections in
our genetic structure. The herpes viruses, including HHV-6, are a good
example of viruses that learn to live reasonably well within the body.
However, under certain conditions — not well-defined as yet — they can
reactivate and cause harm.
paulywog
at 2:57pm ET
How
can a person bolster their immune system as they age? It seems like that
would be the best treatment at this point until more is known about HHV-6.
Nicholas
Regush at 2:58pm ET
I
won't answer this specifically because I am not a physician. But common
sense dictates that there is only so much we can control in our daily lives
— we can eat well, exercise and all that but we can't control toxicity
in the environment and we cannot control the flow of microbes.
Steve
from ipt.aol.com at 3:00pm ET
Is
any connection seen between HHV-6 and IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative
colitis)?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:01pm ET
There
is some scientific interest — again mainly Knox and Carrigan in Milwaukee
in the notion that HHV-6 may be involved in some way in gastrointestinal
disorder. This virus is certainly by all accounts a potential candidate
for this. But again, we NEED RESEARCH TO PRESS THESE ISSUES ON. THERE IS
NO FUNDING!
Peter
at 3:01pm ET
Has
there been any research done to determine whether this is truly a new viral
threat, or whether it's possible that most humans have always carried HHV-6?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:02pm ET
HHV-6
appears to be a very old virus, perhaps the oldest of all the herpes viruses.
It's very likely that it has been involved in the past with illness as
it appears to be now. We don't usually get a grip on things like this until
science takes a close look.
Julie
from max4.kc.idir.net at 3:03pm ET
Are
you familiar with the transfer factor that many CFS patients are currently
being treated with? They are obtained from the first colostrum of cows
injected with the dead HHV-6 virus.
Nicholas
Regush at 3:05pm ET
I'm
aware of the research and, frankly, anything in this area that focuses
on gleaning more knowledge is terrific. HOWEVER, I want to emphasize that
as a medical journalist I usually want to see good scientific data in preferably
well-controlled conditions, before I begin to take the research seriously.
I suppose people will try all kinds of things, some of which may lead to good breaks for others. The important thing in HHV-6 research is to get funding for large clinical trials because there are a number of drugs out there and procedures that are being touted as important for CFS, MS and even AIDS.
Philip
at 3:05pm ET
What
is the potential profit for the pharmaceutical companies if they discover
a cure vs. treatment?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:06pm ET
When
you add up the possible clientele for drug company clinical trials involving
treatments for HHV-6, we're talking about a huge investment in time and
money, with the usual rewards if things should pan out.
My
main concern is that little is being done now. And with this concern is
my fear that inappropriate and desperate science will replace the excellence
of Knox and Carrigan.
Moderator
at 3:09pm ET
Becky
asks: What other diseases has the virus been implicated in?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:10pm ET
One
area my book explores is the potential of a virus such as HHV-6 to affect
our genetics. A couple of chapters deal with the excellent work of Dr.Howard
Urnovitz, in California, who is, I believe, charting a path of better understanding
how viruses can affect our genes, reshuffle them, and observe how this
process could lead to or contribute to chronic illness — many forms of
it.
Bob
from tnt2.culpeper.va.da.uu.net at 3:10pm ET
What
can those of us out here do to press the issue of funding responsible research
on HHV-6? The CDC seems determined NOT to do this. What are the other options?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:12pm ET
What
is badly needed are privately-sponsored conferences on HHV-6, since the
government is lacking in its responsibility to organize such things. Also,
it's important to press congressional commitees — and frankly, maybe people
should write to Dr. Anthony Fauci at the NIH and ask him why he has been
so irresponsibly neglectful of weighing in on this issue. I plan to take
this one up myself shortly, as a journalistic question. WHY NO FUNDING?
Moderator
at 3:12pm ET
Nicholas,
thanks for joining us today. Any final thoughts for our audience?
Nicholas
Regush at 3:19pm ET
Final
thought: I wrote The Virus Within in the hope that many people could learn
about a new breed of scientist tracking a powerful virus, namely Konnie
Knox and Don Carrigan of Milwaukee. Also, Howard Urnovitz. Their time will
come and it will help change the face of our understanding of chronic illnesses.
Goodbye
and thank-you.
Moderator
at 3:20pm ET
Nicholas
Regush is the author of the new book, The Virus Within.
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