Humans

Why Epstein-Barr is the ‘everything virus’

Virtually all of us have been infected, but an unlucky few develop lifelong illness

A group of various people's silhouettes in a water-color style image.

Illustration by Marta Spendowska

By Michael Marshall

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When Rae Mainwaring was 13, she developed a peculiar illness. She recalls “just feeling awful” and experiencing a crushing fatigue.