Many Americans, 95%, are infected by Epstein-Barr, the herpes virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, by their late 30’s, according to a story in The New York Times. Teens and young adults (35-50%) are the most susceptible to developing severe fatigue and other symptoms, said the article.
The virus is transmitted through intimate contact with the saliva in the mouth of an infected person, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The incubation period ranges from 4-6 weeks, but no special precautions are usually suggested because many healthy people carry and spread the virus throughout their lives and the transmission is almost impossible to prevent, said the CDC.
One researcher, Dr. Joseph Pagano, at the University of Wyoming, said mono is a significant disease in the US, but the medical community doesn’t give it much importance because people recover from it, according to the Times. Because of the lack of attention, there is no vaccine or antiviral drug to ward it off or treat the disease, said article.
The symptoms for mono can include:
- Severe fatigue
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swollen glands
- Enlarged spleen
