Researchers in the United States have discovered a strong link between the Epstein-Barr virus, one of the world’s most common human viruses, and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Walter Reed Army Institute found the likelihood of MS increases when a person is infected with EBV. Their findings implicate EBV – a herpes virus – as a “contributory cause” of the disease.
Hundreds of thousands of individuals not infected with EBV were observed over several years and researchers were able to determine the point when individuals developed the virus and its relation to MS onset.
An estimated 95 per cent of American adults are infected with the virus but often show little or no symptoms. It is common for children to contract the virus, which is largely asymptomatic, at a young age.
EBV has previously been linked to some types of cancer and can cause medical complications when a person’s immune system is diminished. There is no effective treatment of the virus.
Read more about the research findings here.
