# What Is ME/CFS? - Author: **Center for Disease Control and Prevention** - Document Tags: [[Chronic Fatigue Syndrom]], [[chronic fatigue syndrome]], [[Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]] - [URL link](https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/index.html)  ## Highlights - People with ME/CFS have overwhelming fatigue that is not improved by rest. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hj9g6g3yp1x15mbnhsd65ey4)) --- - An estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from ME/CFS. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hj9g56rpregsad3bsnssjfz2)) --- - About 90 percent of people with ME/CFS have not been diagnosed. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hj9g5bt125qz68r27gwb26sa)) --- - ME/CFS costs the U.S. economy about $17 to $24 billion annually in medical bills and lost incomes. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hj9g5feqs634gn6h3acb6ghd)) --- - Most medical schools in the United States do not have ME/CFS as part of their physician training. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hj9g4vw65a6htfc8kah491t6)) --- - most common in people between 40 and 60 years old ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hdhq6q358j9tf27ft7rdbksc)) ---