Virology Blog

By David Tuller, DrPH Professor Ponting on the biopsychosocial approach Chris Ponting, a geneticist at the University of Edinburgh, has long been a critic of biopsychosocial treatments for ME/CFS, Long Covid, and related illnesses. Professor Ponting is the lead investigator of the groundbreaking DecodeME study, which included more than 15,000 DNA samples from UK patients […]

By David Tuller, DrPH In the late 1980s, the UK and international health establishments began promoting a recovery narrative regarding what was then called chronic fatigue syndrome. Recovery was attainable, they asserted, through interventions like cognitive behavior therapy and graded exercise therapy. This approach quickly became the standard of care, in the UK and elsewhere. […]

by Gertrud U. Rey This article marks my 100th contribution to Virology Blog since I published my first post on March 1, 2018. Above all, I have learned that nature does not recognize the boundaries humans use to organize scientific disciplines. My host Vincent Racaniello and the treasure trove of information on the MicrobeTV network […]

By David Tuller, DrPH It is refreshing to read a study about a rehabilitative intervention for ME/CFS or Long Covid or so-called “medically unexplained symptoms” that acknowledges the lack of meaningful benefits. This is a rare event. In multiple cases, the trialed interventions produce marginally positive results in subjective measures, which are then touted as … Trial By Error: No Benefits for …

By David Tuller, DrPH The Journal of Psychosomatic Research has often served as a house organ of sorts for the “biopsychosocial” ideological brigades. That’s to be expected, given that folks like Per Fink, Michael Sharpe, and Jon Stone are all members of the journal’s editorial board. It should therefore not be surprising that the journal … Trial By Error: Yet Another CBT Trial for Long Covid wit…

By David Tuller, DrPH Cognitive dysfunction, also known as “brain fog,” is among the most disabling aspects of Long Covid—and investigators have struggled to figure out what causes it and how to treat it. Last fall, a study from the National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER initiative, which focuses on Long Covid, found no benefits in … Trial By Error: Can “Cognitive Rehabilitation” for Long Covid …

By David Tuller, DrPH I am reposting below a blog about a “living systematic review” of interventions for Long Covid, which was published by The BMJ in late 2024. This systematic review figured prominently in the opening of the recent Wired piece about mind-body interventions for Long Covid. (I’ve posted about the Wired piece here, … Trial By Error: The BMJ Review on Long Covid Interventions Cite…

by Gertrud U. Rey On June 18, 2026, the top advisory committee for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously recommended Moderna’s new mRNA influenza vaccine, mRNA‑1010 (mFlusiva), for adults aged 50 and older. The vote marked the committee’s first review of a new vaccine application since 2023 and demonstrated strong support ahead of a … A Better Flu Vaccine Read More »

By David Tuller, DrPH The furor over the Wired epic about mind-body treatments for Long Covid simmers on. “The Truth About Long Covid,” published on June 1st, proposed that these sorts of interventions might cure people, but that angry patient have censored science and blocked research progress. The piece generated fierce pushback—not least from popular … Trial By Error: Furor Over Wired’s “Mind-…

By David Tuller, DrPH Media watchdog covers how major news articles have psychologized Long Covid The organization Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), based in New York City, is a progressive news watchdog focused on exposing bias and censorship. FAIR recently published an article called “Media Won’t Stop Psychologizing Long Covid,” by writer and investigative … Trial By Error: Some Things I…

By David Tuller, DrPH On June 1st, Wired published a 7,600-word lollapalooza about mind-body interventions for Long Covid. The article, written by Alan Levinovitz, a professor of religion at James Madison University, posited that angry patients were derailing important research into these and other psychological and behavioral treatments. For balance, Levinovitz quoted multiple critics of … Trial…

By David Tuller, DrPH Much has already been written about Alan Levinovitz’ 7,600-word love poem to the potential healing powers of so-called “mind-body” interventions for Long Covid. Wired published the article last Monday under the title “The Painful Truth About Long Covid.” As the word “painful” suggests, the epic is also infused with darker notes. … Trial By Error: The Truth According to Wired…

by Gertrud U. Rey On May 17, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern in response to an Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The situation is escalating rapidly, with over 300 confirmed cases and 48 deaths as of today, highlighting the severity … Ebola 2026 Read More »

By David Tuller, DrPH Last year’s release of the results from the DecodeME, a UK-based genome wide association study of more than 15,000 DNA samples, generated significant excitement. Action for ME, which spearheaded DecodeME, recently announced that it had received funding for a multi-phase follow-up project called Sequence ME & Long Covid. The UK government … Trial By Error: Interview with Chri…

By David Tuller, DrPH When I write about functional neurological disorder (FND) or functional neurological symptoms, I sometimes get feedback from Zachary Grin, a physical therapist in New York. As an FND specialist, he disagrees with pretty much everything I write about the topic.  At first, I tried to engage with Zachary in a good-natured … Trial By Error: My Exchange with an FND Physical Thera…

By David Tuller, DrPH This morning I sent the following letter to CNS Spectrums, a neuroscience journal published by Cambridge University Press. Subject line: “Correction needed for etiological statement in ‘Functional neurological symptoms occur commonly in healthy adults: implications for the pathophysiology of FND.'” Depending on the response, or lack of one, I might also … Trial By Error: My …

*Kim H, a FND patient with whom I have frequently exchanged views, has left a comment below. I urge others to read it. I disagree with her interpretation, but I certainly think she has a right to express her perspective. However, I stand by my post. ********** By David Tuller, DrPH For years*, experts in … Trial By Error: So FND Is Not Only a Brain “Software” Issue After All… Read More »

A number of posts on social media have suggested that Andes hantavirus, which most recently caused an outbreak on the MV Hondius, is sexually transmitted. These claims are based on a 2023 paper (Presence and Persistence of Andes Virus RNA in Human Semen). Let’s take a look at the data and see what conclusions can … Is Andes hantavirus sexually transmitted? Read More »

By David Tuller, DrPH I don’t generally write much myself on May 12th, which is an international day of awareness for ME. I’m aware of ME most of the time and write about it constantly, so I don’t feel a particular need to say anything special today. I usually consider it a day for patients … Trial By Error: More on Long COVID panel at Psychiatrists’ Gathering Read More »

by Gertrud U. Rey Contrary to popular belief, most vaccines don’t actually prevent infection with a pathogen, instead, they prevent the disease that follows infection. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine stands out as a notable exception in this regard. A recent study indicates that antibodies produced in response to the HPV vaccine can neutralize the … The Perfect Vaccine Read More »