The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in 1964. At the time, the
very idea of a virus underlying a cancer was revolutionary. Cancer is,
after all, not catching. Even now, the idea of a virus causing cancer
surprises many people. But Epstein-Barr, named after its discoverers,
Sir Anthony Epstein and Dr Yvonne Barr, is fascinating for other
reasons, too. Almost everyone carries it, yet it is only under certain
circumstances that it produces disease. It has been associated with
different, apparently unrelated, diseases in different populations:
Burkitt's Lymphoma, producing tumours in the jaw, in African children; a
nasal tumour in China; glandular fever in Europe and the USA; and the
majority of cases of Hodgkin's Disease everywhere. This book tells the
story of the discovery of the virus, and the recognition of its
connection with these various diseases--an account that spans the world
and involves some remarkable characters and individual stories.
The accompanying reference guide is included as a PDF on this disc.
