The Silent Brain-Eating Virus That Infects Millions Revealed
A little-known virus may be silently infecting up to 90% of people, lurking in cells and posing a serious brain threat. Discover the shocking details about this stealthy virus.
Although the vast majority of people may have never heard of it, a virus known as the human polyomavirus 2, or the JC virus, is estimated to silently infect up to 90% of the global population. The name comes from the first patient, John Cunningham, from whom it was originally isolated in 1971. This virus spreads through the fecal-oral route and is thought to initially infect the tonsils or gastrointestinal tract, causing no noticeable symptoms.
Once infected, the JC virus establishes a persistent, lifelong presence in the body, known as the archetype JC virus. For most people, this latent infection remains completely asymptomatic. However, new research has revealed a potential new way for the virus to become activated, affecting up to 10% of adults worldwide.
Source: Ars Technica
