Epstein-Barr virus

The Epstein-Barr virus (abbreviated EBV) is a virus of the herpesvirus[?] family (which includes Herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus), and one of the most common viruses in humans. Most people become infected with EBV sometime, which is often harmless.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s EBV became the favoured explanation for the current round of medical hysteria, the yuppy flu. It was noted that people complaining of characteristic exhaustion had EBV, although it was also noted EBV was present in almost everyone, even those not complaining of exhaustion. The debate lasted for several years, before the yuppy flu hysteria disappeared, to be replaced by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Diseases associated with EBV:

• Stevens Johnson syndrome
• Hepatitis
• Herpes
• Mononucleosis
• Alice in Wonderland syndrome
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

External links

• CDC website on EBV (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm)