Tanya Francis, 45, couldn’t have predicted that a virus she encountered at age 14 would drastically affect her health years later. Diagnosed with mononucleosis, a common adolescent ailment caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Ms. Francis’s experience deviated from the norm. Rather than being a fleeting teenage illness, EBV marked the beginning of a long-term battle.
Ms. Francis’s ensuing struggle with fatigue, joint pain, vertigo, and a 2018 multiple sclerosis diagnosis reflects a wider narrative. Her experience sheds light on EBV’s complex and frequently overlooked influence on chronic diseases.
