Mary:  I don't know about CMV, but there have been reports suggesting a
possible link between CFS and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV, alias infectious
mononucleosis virus).  To my knowledge, this has not been proven.  I
agree that people often interpret "news flashes" as the truth, and
probably a number of people believe there is a virus which is the proven
agent of CFS.  As far as I know, although there is some suggestion that
the disease can be transmitted, there is no strong epidemiologic evidence
for an infectious transmission pattern.  When the AIDS epidemic was first
recognized, it didn't take epidemiologists long to figure out that it
must be transmitted by a virus in a similar pattern as hepatitis B, i.e.
through blood and body fluids.  The virus itself was not isolated till
later, but the theory that it must be a virus was very strong. IMHO,
there is no similar certainty about CFS having a viral transmission.
Alicia.  [log in to unmask]