The future

Also on the topic of XMRV, Dr. Bell suggested the possibility that many people may have been exposed to this virus without developing symptoms. He mentioned one patient who didn't have ME/CFS, but had suffered through two years with mononucleosis when she was in college; she tested positive for XMRV. He said he wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that some people who were fine at age 20 became symptomatic as they aged, perhaps developing ME/CFS at age 40 or later. This is another subject for future research.

Bell concluded his remarks by saying, "We should be much further along in our understanding of the illness than we are at present." That we are as far along as we are is due in no small part to Dr. Bell’s persistent work in the face of untold challenges.