The CFIDS Association of America posted a a Facebook alert late Friday, Jan 29, reporting they had learned that:
• Dr. William C. Reeves will be leaving his post as head of the CDC’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Program, effective on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14. Reportedly his new post will be as Senior Advisor for Mental Health Surveillance in the Public Health Surveillance Program Office - in the CDC's Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services.
• And Dr. Elizabeth R. Unger will now essentially head the CFS Research Program – as Acting Chief of the Chronic Viral Diseases Branch (the unit within CDC that houses the CFS Research Program). Dr. Unger, a virologist, served as Team Leader of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Program in the Viral Exanthems and Herpesvirus Branch of the Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases.
Speculation & Information Emerging
Though at this writing we have yet to see an official statement from the CDC on this pending change, the CFIDS Association’s news alert immediately raised speculation and messaging across the ME/CFS community.
See for example:
• A summary of Dr. Elizabeth R. Unger’s experience & qualifications, posted Jan 30 on Co-Cure.org
• Cort Johnson's take, on his Phoenix Rising website, of: 1) factors that might have driven the change - “Dr. Reeves Removed from the CDC’s CFS Research Program"; and 2) pros and cons of the Reeves Era, in “A Look Back at Dr. Reeves’ CDC CFS Program."
