USA: GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES LINK BETWEEN FATAL NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER ALS OR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE AND GULF WAR SYNDROME

Record ID: 518353

  • Title: USA: GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES LINK BETWEEN FATAL NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER ALS OR LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE AND GULF WAR SYNDROME
  • Date: 19th December 2001
  • Summary: (W1)SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) 1. SLV RETIRED MAJOR MICHAEL DONNELLY BEING WHEELED INTO LIVING ROOM 0.04 2. SCU STILL PHOTGRAPH OF DONNELLY IN FRONT OF HIS F-16 PLANE 0.07 3. SCU DONNELLY'S FACE; SCU ANOTHER GULF WAR VETERAN'S MRI; SLV DESERT STORM PLANE TAKING OFF (3 SHOTS) 0.20 (W1)WASHINGTON D.C
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SOUTH WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT/ WASHINGTON D.C. / DALLAS, TEXAS AND MARYLAND; UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAE0G35BWOUR96WUOCDCT5ZY9KD
  • Story Text: The United States has acknowledged the link between the
    fatal neurological disorder, ALS - or Lou Gehrig's disease,
    and Gulf War illness.

    It's a bitter sweet moment for 42-year-old Michael
    Donnelly. For years, the former Gulf War Pilot has fought his
    biggest battle on the home front, struggling to get the U.S.

    government to acknowledge that his diagnosis of amyotrophic
    lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, was a direct
    result of his service in Desert Storm.

    Now, five years later, the U.S. government has finally
    acknowledged the link between the fatal neurological disorder
    and exposure to toxins during the Gulf War. Michael's sister
    Denise says they have located 33 Gulf War vets with ALS.

    "There are more Gulf War vets who are sick with a whole
    range of other illnesses, so it is a vindication and it
    restores a measure of honour and dignity with these people,
    but the battle isn't over," she said.

    The disease attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal
    cord. Approximately 5,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S.

    each year, and most die within five years.

    The report conducted by the U.S. Veterans Administration
    identified 40 Gulf veterans with the disease. The rate of ALS
    among deployed gulf war vets was significantly higher.

    James R. Benson, of the United States Department of
    Veterans Affairs says the study showed that servicemen who
    went to the gulf were twice as likely to have ALS as those who
    weren't deployed.

    Donnelly, is now unable to walk or talk and communication
    is painstakingly slow. His thoughts must be interpreted letter
    by letter, word by word. But it was a victorious moment when
    the VA called him personally to acknowledge that he was right
    all along.

    One third of the 690,000 US veterans who served in the
    Gulf say they suffer from long term medical maladies ranging
    from chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea and
    orthostatic hypotension.

    But Michael's battle is particularly challenging one, he
    says through his nurse.

    "Sometimes it is frustrating. Sometimes I feel like I am a
    person lost at sea," he said. But Donnelly says he won't give
    up, on himself or the others.


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