COVID19--Gulf War Syndrome vs. Pandemic Fatigue --THE URNOVITZ STUDY, 1997

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ENG401B.1002 //James L’Angelle //University of Nevada, Reno //Spring 2021

Journal Entry 013: Gulf War Syndrome vs. Pandemic Fatigue 

      Noted in recent news is the world, and Americans in general, now experiencing “burnout” over the COVID-19 crisis and in more descriptive terms, “pandemic fatigue;”

      “In recent weeks, many countries have been reporting an increase in ‘pandemic fatigue’ – people are feeling demotivated about following recommended behaviours to protect themselves and others from the virus. Finding effective ways to tackle this fatigue and reinvigorate public vigilance is a growing challenge as the crisis continues. Pandemic fatigue evolves gradually over time and is affected by the cultural, social, structural and legislative environment.” (WHO) 

     There may be another explanation related to the burnout and it may not be psychological, but attributed to the very nature of the virus itself. In an Associated Press article written by Jim Abrams in 1996, the culprit in relation to the Gulf War Syndrome in soldiers was possibly a virus related to chemical exposure; 

      “WASHINGTON (AP) _ A California scientist says he has discovered genetic material common to Gulf War-era veterans that could provide a clue as to why so many became sick after serving in the 1991 war. Microbiologist Dr. Howard Urnovitz, in a study being presented Monday to a conference of Gulf War veterans in Tampa, Fla., said the genetic marker could point to the existence of a virus. The virus, in turn, could make veterans exposed to chemical agents or other toxins more susceptible to illness, he said.” (AP) 

      Urnovitz pegged the enterovirus, a common cold precursor, as the underlying genetic material found in the veterans. In other words, as a “precursor” goes, the genetic material would have had to be present in order for the reaction to exposure that causes the Gulf War Syndrome. That reaction is known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Gulf War Veterans. (VA) 

      The scientist used as a comparison the same phrase now being touted in the media as his epidemic fatigue syndrome where, “at least a dozen times in the last 60 years where many people were exposed to pollutants.”(AP) This brings into focus the role of the atmosphere and the components that might be contributing to that very pandemic burnout. 

     Notice when stay-at-home orders were given, pollution levels and smog over large industrialized areas and densely populated cities disappeared, and the infection levels dropped. If Urnovitz was correct, then that very presence of so-called “genetic material,” the precursor itself may be nothing more than smog that sets the stage not just for viral infection but the fatigue associated with it as well.      The actual technical study of Urnovitz and his team was published in the American Society for Microbiology under the Digital Object Identifier: 10.1128/CDLI.6.3.330-335.1999 (ASM) 

 References: 

Abrams, J., Scientist Says Virus Could Be Behind Illnesses (apnews.com)

WHO/Fatigue, WHO/Europe discusses how to deal with pandemic fatigue

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Gulf War Veterans - Public Health (va.gov)

 Urnovitz & ASM, RNAs in the Sera of Persian Gulf War Veterans Have Segments Homologous to Chromosome 22q11.2 | Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (asm.org)

Desert Storm mask image, 

Iraqi Desert Storm Military Gas Mask With Original Instructions, Satchel & Can. | eBay

Howard Urnovits/LinkedIn. (2) Howard Urnovitz | LinkedIn

 Submitted: 26 November 2020

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