(Michael Le Page/ New Scientist) — It has long been suspected that the common Epstein-Barr virus can trigger multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, a study of 10 million military personnel in the US has shown that virtually every case of MS is preceded by infection with the virus. The finding suggests a vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus could greatly reduce the incidence of MS.
“This is really a turning point,” says Alberto Ascherio at Harvard University. It should lead to better ways to treat MS as well as help to prevent it, he says.
MS is caused by the immune system attacking the protective sheath that wraps around nerves, leading to symptoms such as difficulty walking that worsen over time. (..)