Customer Reviews

The Virus Within: A Coming Epidemic

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The peripatetic Nicholas Regush demonstrates the courage of someone with little to lose - as a medical journalist he has no funding grants to protect and no academic prestige to gain or protect. Accordingly and with superb timing he has dropped a `bombshell' not just on the public but also on a section of the powerful academic medical research establishment in the US.

In attempting to re-focus almost two decades of research into the nebulous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), he rightly comments on the inconsistencies in research findings on HIV. For example the fact that measurements of active HIV `viral loads' (measured by sophisticated and sensitive DNA `footprint' techniques) do not seem to correlate with disease in patients with progressive or severe HIV-associated disease.

He follows the demanding and dedicated early careers of two `non-establishment' neuropathology researchers Konnie Knox and Donald Carrigan - the former who had presented for her PhD thesis the role of a ubiquitous and particularly small herpes group virus (herpes hominis type 6 or HHV-6) as a co-factor in the pathogenesis of AIDS. Indeed some of the arguments suggested that HHV-6 may be the dominant virus which by damaging a wide range of T-lymphocytes (including CD4, CD8 and CD56 or natural killer/NK cells) actually induces the progression towards terminal disease in these patients and not the `hard to find' HIV virus. Indeed they have wondered - quite publicly - if the HIV virus was an artefact created as a `retrovirus' by the body's own ability to create RNA sequences which resembled and behaved as rather innocuous viral organisms. It had been suggested that perhaps the retrovirus fragments had a co-factor role in reactivating the ubiquitous, mostly dormant HHV-6 virus.

Being the smallest in the herpes virus group and now having been shown resident in small quantities in otherwise `normal brains' also, the likelihood of a powerful role of the HHV-6 virus in non-HIV diseases is also very strong. Indeed in the final chapter Knox and Carrigan are being courted into the broad-based research program of microbiologist Howard Urnovitz.

Urnovitz is said to believe that the dormant role of HHV-6 and the complex interaction of the human immune system over a lifetime are likely to have associations with a number of other non-HIV related diseases apart from multiple sclerosis, especially chronic diseases. Indeed he believes, and quite rightly in my personal opinion that they have been researching a time bomb. It is of some interest that a large amount of the HHV-6 research in the last few years has come from places other than the US - which is I suspect a commentary on the academic conservatism of the AIDS-research institutions in North America.

If there is any other criticism of this book it would be that Regush has concentrated largely (and perhaps unavoidably) on the qualities and imperfections of individuals - and not just Knox and Carrigan. This is done at the expense of exploring in more detail the abundance of other work by other researchers on HHV-6, HHV-7 and HHV-8 over the last 5 years. These largely dormant or 'slow viruses' have been suspected of permanently turning on abnormal cellular neuro-immune functions (including cell destruction) in ways which have yet to be fully elucidated, but which in likelihood come, rather than primarily through the bloodstream, through the antigenically-primed and virus-laden lymphocyte cascade which re-penetrates the central nervous system at times of reactivation, following the primary viral infection in childhood through the nasal passages and saliva. That first journey from the respiratory and salivary reservoirs to the brainstem (via the cranial nerves) is presumably a formality; thence in a trans-synaptic semi-random military like attack the virus may move through the vast mass of peripheral nerve and plexiform conduits to potentially every nook and cranny of the body - including the bone marrow. With the executive control of the imprinted host genome, the ultimate disease we as individuals may experience might in many other respects depend on both neurotropic randomness and our inherent immunological integrity, at least some of which will be inheritable.

Regush comments on the substantial `patch protection' between specialities - for example the treatment of multiple sclerosis could, and indeed probably will be usurped eventually by the infectious disease physicians over the neurologists. Neurologists may well be wondering if they will continue to have a broad-ranging speciality in the future. Others would argue that the impact of the control of the human body through its central nervous system, the ubiquity of nerve supply to every organ and vessel in the body and the complexity and bio-variability of the neuro-immune response to `innate' centrally disposed infectious agents such as HHV-6 and the general deterioration in the immune response as we get older are in a holistic sense the real basis of most if not all degenerative disease.

While the HHV-6 virus, discovered in just the last decade, has in all likelihood been around since pre-historic times talk of a coming epidemic is perhaps unconvincing. But what has changed in modern times is the nature of human existence - marriage breakdowns, multiple and changing sexual relationships, more liberal immigration policies, urban living and frequent international jet travel. These are perhaps the real source of concern - the creation of a Darwinian-like environment for an accelerated passage of a wide range of neurotropic viruses throughout the globe.

As somebody who has multiple sclerosis and active HHV6, finally a book that shows the truth about HHV6 and its implications in disease, present and future. For too long research into our disease has veered in the wrong direction, concentrating on a rodent model that serves us the SUFFERERS of MS, no good at all. Regush finally gives the lowdown on the the findings of a group of researchers brave enough to seek the truth and not afraid to say it! This book to me answered many questions and made me somewhat sceptical of the agendas of the organizations meant to serve us as they are more willing to fund the rodent than human disease. Public awareness of HHV6 needs to be increased, Regush has written an excellent book which I hope will do just that. Sometimes it takes an honest man, and in Drs Knox and Carrigan we find just that - people who seek the truth. Regush has written a compelling account of a virus that threatens us all, whose implications in human disease is brutal yet we are better for the knowledge of that brutality. Let us hope that with this book and the knowledge the public gain from it, finally the truth will out about HHV6 and finally us with MS, CFS and other related conditions will see our donations to our so called charities finally reach genuine research for a cure and not administrative costs. Terrific book! For ME the millenium started here!

The subtitle of the book is The Coming Epidemic, but based on the tale told within, the epidemic is here -- the symptoms merely haven't appeared in all of us yet. This is not a detailed medical/scientific book, but a human story about people with integrity who are making their best effort, despite resistance from the biased traditional medical community, to uncover the source of such diseases as AIDS, Chronic Fatigue, MS, and some bizarre neurological diseases. Little is said in the book about a powerful issue: how latent but deadly infections are the legacy of a sloppy vaccination program, one where animal viruses (e.g., SIV) infected vaccines that were still released into the market, despite the manufacturer's foreknowledge of the possibly epidemic implications. I would like to have read more of an expose of this matter, since it is floating around in the news right now with the accompanying stern denials from pharmaceutical companies (rather like the recent denials from the tobacco industry? ) and suppression from the obsessed but trivial media. The Virus Within also details the struggle of several medical researchers to find the source of certain plaguing illnesses, and their conclusion is increasingly based on the HHV-6 virus. Regush presents data that is nearly overwhelming, but he also gives us a good account of the supression of this data by the medical powers who, as Regush implies, are more interested in profits and protecting reputations/egos than they are in finding the truth about disease. In the end, as Regush lets us know, people suffer the ignorance of their personal physicians and the belligerent censorship of the American medical industry through tragic illness and death. It is a moral story, really, one where the reputation of the famous must be preserved even at the cost of one or more human lives, as if that were a fair trade for pat-on-the-back old-boyism. And one gets the message that, if HHV-6 is not recognized as a culprit in many fatal or debilitating diseases, our chances of living healthy, productive, pleasurable lives will be very small. This is a very real, sympathetic story. It is also revealing. Regush explores the activities of a number of research scientists, from the big names (big egos) to the dedicated few who work despite failing funding, political or academic censure, and refusal of the journals or media to grant publication/public attention. Further, as a medical thriller, it is well-written, compelling, and fascinating.

Every Once in awhile a book comes along that you simply know will make a difference. This is not only a readable book...fascinating, entertaining...but an absorbing human and scientific drama.

Regush tells the story of tracking HHV6 through the eyes of scientists who have been virus hunters themselves and through the stories of patients, for some of whom, the recognition of the disease came too late. A virus that lives in most of us but lies dormant until an event or events unknown awakens it to cause massive destruction. It's not a doomsday book but it is surely a wake-up call.

It's also a Saturday afternoon book. One builds a fire, makes a pot of almond tea, gathers an afghan, curls up in a rocking chair and reads from beginning to end.

Great job!

Recently finished reading "The Virus Within: A Coming Epidemic" by Nichalus Regush and published by Dutton. I recommend this book to everybody. It points out the strong coverup in research in the strong possibility of the role of HHV6 (Human Herpes Virus 6) in AIDS. The established experts are doing everything within their power to squash Nick Regush and his book. Regush is a supurb writer and is the medical reporter for ABC News with 30 years of experience. The book is important and needs to be read. Regush raises many questions that I sure would like some answers to. The book cites detailed references and reads somewhat like the book "And the Band Played On." This book should be required reading for all health care providers and AIDS researchers.

This book may give me my life back. I have researched my illness for eight years now, never giving up though everything I have tried from numerous allopathic specialists to numerous alternative healing practices. I have a virus-like disease (I always get the feverish malaise that precedes a herpes outbreak (I have Type I, thank goodness). Whatever this disease is, it flares up at the slightest stress of any type whatever (time pressure, a fight with my husband, annoyance at our idiotic President and his evil cronies, etc.) and causes me a lot of pain, stiffness and a host of other difficult physical symptoms. It has been diagnosed as fibromyalgia, but that's pretty much beside the point as there is no treatment for fibromyalgia.

Both the science and the writing are excellent in this book. I highly recommend it, even for people who don't have a chronic disease. It was a fascinating detective story and I can't wait to see how it plays out over the next years as this area of science continues to be pursued. If you have any of the chronic diseases listed on the back cover, you can't afford to not read this book. Just just can't afford not to.

Regush has a style of writing that brings to life not only the technical aspects of the research into HHV-6 but the personal and professional struggles these scientists dealt with during the course of their work. Those of us that are not particularly "scientific minded" will gain insight into the process that eventually leads to the treatments, tests, and drugs that we take for granted. Any student who is interested in a career in Science will surely be fascinated following the trail along with Carrigan, Knox, Urnovitz and Duesberg. The colorful personalities mixed with the extreme dedication of these scientists, puts the reader "right there with them" watching it all unfold. The reader is left wondering if the HHV-6 research of Konnie Knox and Donald Carrigan will someday blend in with the intensive chronic illness work of Howard Urnovitz, paving the way to cures and treatments of diseases like AIDS, GWS, CFS, MS, and Cancers. We can only hope.

This is a must buy for those interested in public health. As a man with MS I strongly believe that the viral connection is the way to go to find an answer to our disease. The Virus Within opens the doors of understanding and gives those with MS, CFS, AIDS and other HHV-6 linked diseases an insight into the enemy within. It is a book not only worth buying but worth its weight in gold as a startlingly informational look at the damage viruses can do. The answers are there and I feel assured by the fact that those great scientists are following such a hot lead. I loved the book!

We are a set of MS webforums that are eager followers of MS research as we badly want a cure! Many of us are HHV-6 active and place our hopes and prayers on the research covered in the Virus Within. It is a great book that breaks boundaries in MS research. For many years little was known of our disease. A diagnosis is bad enough but being diagnosed with the 'unknown' is terrifying. Many of us read Virus Within and saw ourselves as so many things fitted into place. It is a ground breaking book about ground breaking research that we hope will continue until the final answers to the puzzle of our disease are found. Highly recommended!

Regush has done the chronic disease communities a great favor. His chronicle--and expose--ought to lead to burgeoning research into HHV-6 and AIDS, as well as other mysterious ilnesses/syndromes. I read his book in one sitting, finding it fascinating. I remain unconvinced about HHV-6 as a dangerous epidemic despite my own chronic illness; however, there is much excellent research presented that HHV-6 is potentially dangerous for certain people. It is a strength of this book that Regush presents such excellent scientific research while simultaneously provoking the reader to question the manner in which such science is conducted in the United States because of professional competition, time constraints for broadening research, funding priorities, political leanings, and academe's limitations. I found the style of writing to be overly idiomatic--"hit the roof,", "bombed"--and felt concerned as I read that this media style might detract from the importance of the book's message in the minds of some readers. I highly reommend the book, nevertheless, and hope that the scientific community is paying attention.