The invisible public health crisis: no post-pandemic for those with chronic, disabling Long COVID

Courtesy of ME/CFS South Australia

The invisible public health crisis: no post-pandemic for those with chronic, disabling Long COVID.

Healthy productive lives are being upended by Long COVID. In February, Professor Martin Hensher of Deakin University, predicted that up to 325,000 Australians would develop Long COVID. A high percentage of those with Long COVID will go onto develop the debilitating condition ME/CFS.

'...it’s extraordinary how many people have a post-viral syndrome that’s very strikingly similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome [ME/CFS]'. – Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President, US, 27 July 2020.

With an anticipated doubling of the number of Australians with ME/CFS, possibly exceeding 500,000 people, the economic burden would increase from $14 billion pa to nearing $30 billion pa.

On May12th, buildings around the globe will #LightUpTheNight for ME/CFS, highlighting the devastating situation facing our community, as the need for health, disability and welfare supports escalates. Iconic buildings in Adelaide will #LightUpTheNight in blue.

Members of the public, health practitioners and organisations that provide support services, need to learn more about ME/CFS in order to recognise it in Long COVID and understand how to assist people who experience it.

One champion of ME/CFS in SA has been SAHMRI where researchers continue to study the condition, continuing SA’s proud legacy in ME/CFS research and clinical guidance. 25% of people with ME/CFS are homebound. Flinders University is working with us on a research and innovation project to highlight the health and social inclusion needs of Frail, Homebound and Bedridden People (FHBP).