Words by Abi Scaife
There may finally be a jab to prevent Multiple Sclerosis.
Amazing! Tell me more.
MS is a lifelong condition that affects more than 130,000 people in the UK. It’s a disease that harms your central nervous system and, though people don’t usually die from it, it can cause huge health problems including fatigue, problems walking, balance issues, and more.
Increasingly, MS is being linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) - and a vaccine is emerging that may prevent MS from emerging.
How does it work?
Well, 95% of the world’s population carries EBV already, dormant inside our bodies, until it causes infections in adulthood like glandular fever. Last year, a study showed that the chances of developing MS after an EBV infection increases 32-fold.
A team of scientists at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute are creating a vaccine that works in two different ways to prevent the EBV infection - and therefore the illnesses, like MS and some types of cancers, that it can cause.
So far, the study has proved incredibly hopeful in mice, and will soon progress to the next stage of testing - including human trials!
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
MS Society UK. This charity helps to distribute multiple sclerosis news, information, research, and support for everyone affected by MS. Find out more.
Multiple Sclerosis Trust. This is a UK charity that helps make sense of MS, supporting those affected by MS for the last 30 years. Support them here.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The National MS Society is bringing the world together to cure MS for every single person — as fast as possible. Learn more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.
