Between the common epstein barr virus ebv and multiple sclerosis, an incurable autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. we re joined now by the scientist who led that study, alberto ascherio, professor of epidemiology at harvard s th chan school of public health. talk us through this, what is a link between the two, in layman terms as well? terms as well? thank you for invitin: terms as well? thank you for inviting me terms as well? thank you for inviting me to terms as well? thank you for inviting me to talk terms as well? thank you for inviting me to talk about - terms as well? thank you for| inviting me to talk about this. the epstein barr virus is a common virus that affects the majority of people without causing problems, occasionally it causes multiple sclerosis. this was discovered after following a population over1 million after finding that those with ebv do not develop multiple sclerosis. it is only
Vaccine but it will still be a few years before we know that we have an effective vaccine. why has it taken so long to find this link? why has it taken so long to find this link? partly because infection with find this link? partly because infection with the find this link? partly because i infection with the epstein-barr infection with the epstein barr virus is so common, it was difficult to find some of the aduu difficult to find some of the adult population who are not affected by the ebv virus so it took 20 years for this study to accumulate, even in 10 million individuals, enough people who are not infected with the virus that we could follow them over time. , , , ., ., time. this must be exhilarating for ou, time. this must be exhilarating for you. to time. this must be exhilarating for you, to have time. this must be exhilarating for you, to have found - time. this must be exhilarating for you, to have found the - for you, to have found the link, to be able to help peop
After infection that they have signs of a degenerative process in the brain and then they develop ms if there is a link between ebv and ms, cannot we just vaccinate against ebv? in theory, there is not enough approved vaccine for ebv but there are trials going in for a new nrma vaccine that could decrease infection. decrease infection. how far away are decrease infection. how far away are we decrease infection. how far away are we to decrease infection. how far away are we to perhaps - decrease infection. how far away are we to perhaps do | away are we to perhaps do that, to protect people from ms, now that we have found the link between the two? we are still in phase one of the experiment, which means it typically takes a few years. which means it typically takes a few veere a few years. with the development - a few years. with the development of - a few years. with the development of the l a few years. with the - development of the pandemic, the development of the vaccine has