The MS Wire

News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis

Tag: Epstein-Barr virus

Good News for MS Folks. NIH Joins Search for EBV Vaccine.

EBV vaccine

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is joining the search for a vaccine to attack the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This is a big deal for people with multiple sclerosis, because carrying the virus is thought to play a significant role in the development of MS. In fact, research published earlier this year by Harvard scientists concludes that a previous EBV infection may increase a person’s MS risk by 32 times.…Continue Reading

Things to Know About the MS & EBV Link

MS and EBV link

You may have heard about the research that’s just been published about the Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study reports that being infected by EBV raises the risk of developing MS by 32 times. This isn’t a small or a short study. The researchers looked at 20 years of data covering more than 10 million U.S. military members. “This is a big…Continue Reading

Can We Attack EBV to Fight MS?

Epstein-Barr EBV

There are continuing signals that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a fuel that can spark a multiple sclerosis fire. EBV is a herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, more commonly known as mono. Sometimes called the “kissing disease” because the virus that causes it is easily spread through saliva, mono causes extreme fatigue and body aches. It’s estimated that 90% of Americans are infected by EBV by the time they’re…Continue Reading

Epstein-Barr and MS: Another Link Reported

Epstein-Barr and MS link

More support has been added to the belief that a connection exists between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS. Epstein-Barr is one of the most common viruses, and most people become infected with it at some point in their lives. Frequently, it appears in childhood as infectious mononucleosis, or mono. In a very young child, its symptoms may be minor or unnoticeable. Over the years, many studies have looked at a…Continue Reading

Research Reveals Another Possible Link Between Epstein-Barr and MS

For years researchers have believed a link exists between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis. But scientists have had a hard time finding a precise association. Now, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are reporting another possible connection. Researchers at the Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have found a viral protein in EBV-infected cells. They think that the protein may turn on a “switch” that…Continue Reading