A new study in the United States establishes some link connecting myalgic encephalopathy and the retrovirus. Reportedly some 20,000 people in New Zealand currently suffer from the disease. A strong association has been discovered between the family of murine leukemia viruses (MLV), which entails xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and what we commonly call chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some 101 chronic fatigue patients had been tested and in the initial study XMRV virus was found in almost two-thirds of the tested subjects.

There was a probability that the medicines at present used for the treatment of other diseases could be used to come up with some sort of treatment for myalgic encephalopathy. The disease till date has no cure and this new research could help make some clear diagnosis.

An alliance in New Zealand, namely the Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES) has confirmed the result of the study that had been carried out by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Heather Wilson, President of ANZMES said, "Although this is at the early stages of investigation it does show that ME is a real physical illness and patients need long-term medical support and assistance from others”.