German Government Allocates €500 Million for Long COVID Research, Impacting Global Health Strategies
The German government has announced a significant funding initiative, allocating €500 million (approximately US$582 million) to research long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). This funding is part of a broader National Decade Against Post-Infectious Diseases, set to run from 2026 to 2036. The initiative aims to address the substantial health burden posed by long COVID and other post-infection syndromes, which have become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Germany, nearly one in five people were reported to have long COVID in 2022, while in the United States, about one in seven were affected by late 2023. The economic impact of these conditions is significant, with estimates suggesting a global cost of US$1 trillion annually. The funding will support research into various aspects of post-infectious diseases, including pathophysiology, immunology, diagnostics, mental health, and long-term health consequences.