Germany Declares ‘National Decade’ to Solve the Mystery of Long Covid and ME/CFS

The German government has officially launched a landmark, ten-year initiative to tackle post-infectious diseases, a move designed to provide long-awaited relief for millions suffering from conditions like Long Covid and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). 

Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär presented the comprehensive strategy on Friday, pledging Euro 500 million (USD 540 million) in funding over the next decade to transform Germany into a global leader in this field of medicine.

The "National Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases" aims to decode the underlying biological mechanisms of these often "invisible" illnesses. 

The funding will be funneled into large-scale clinical trials, biomedical research, and the creation of a centralized patient database. Minister Bär emphasized that while these diseases can be life-shattering, they remain notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. 

"We need a long-term strategy to understand the causes and sustainably improve care," Bär stated, noting that for many, the diagnosis currently involves a "lengthy and stressful process of elimination."

Experts have highlighted the critical need for "biomarkers"—measurable biological indicators—to allow doctors to identify these conditions with high reliability. 

Annette Peters, Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at the Helmholtz Centre in Munich, warned that the true burden of these diseases in the population is likely far greater than current estimates suggest. 

The initiative will specifically focus on ME/CFS, a debilitating condition characterized by permanent exhaustion, "brain fog," and extreme sensitivity to light and noise, which gained significant public attention during the pandemic but has lacked substantial funding for decades.

A specialized steering committee is set to begin work in February to oversee the rollout of the project, which will also utilize artificial intelligence and genome sequencing to identify genetic predispositions. 

By committing to a decade of sustained investment, the Merz administration signals a shift toward treating post-infectious syndromes as a major public health priority, aiming for breakthrough therapies by the mid-2030s.

Source: dpa