Chronic mono virus spreads;
Epstein-Barr virus burgeons
By Joeth Zucco
Staff Reporter
Chicken pox is a childhood disease and
mononucleosis is an adolescent disease. Both
are contagious and both are a one-time thing
—at least that’s what we’ve always been told.
The Epstein-Barr virus, discovered as the
cause of infectious mononucleosis, has dispelled
that comfortable myth. Chronic Epstein-Barr
virus hits its victims and stays with them, des
troying any chance for a normal life.
Dr. Gerald Fleischli, director of the University
Health Center, said Epstein Barr virus is known
to cause infectious mononucleosis. It is in the
same category of the herpes virus. Once a person
is infected, he said, “the virus goes latent and
stays in the system.’’
Recurring cases can be disabling, causing
exhaustion and extreme symptoms of mono.
Fleischli said the symptoms vary: sore throat,
headache, rash, aching, swollen and tender
lymph nodes, and fatigue. Since there is no
known cure, Fleischli said, mono is treated sup
portively — treating the symptoms and keeping
the person going.
“We treat a lot less than goes on," he said.
“We don't diagnose all that we treat."
Fleschli said most people have been infected
during their lives and don’t know it. Less than 15
percent of college students become infected
every year. Over a four-year period, half of all
college students will get mono, Fleischli said.
Carol Mitchell, communicable disease coor
dinator for the State Health Department, said
that because of mono’s contagiousness, it can be
spread worldwide. The disease is related to a
variety of cancers and can become serious, she
said.
Fleischli said Epstein-Barr can be terminal in
some cases — a ruptured spleen or brain infec
tion — but those are rare.
Fleischli said new research is going on. In a
July issue of Rolling Stone magazine, it was
predicted that 12 million Americans will be
infected over the next several years as compared
to 270,000 AIDS cases by 1991.
The disease appears to be hitting the baby
boom generation and has been termed the ‘‘Yup
pie Flu.” Victims of the disease include Gore
Vidal, Blake Edwards and other well-knowns in
Hollywood.
According to the article, most victims are
between 25 and 45, are women, and are success
ful, educated professionals.
The article, ‘‘Journey into Fear. The Growing
Nightmare of Epstein-Barr,” said Epstein-Barr
creates cancer cells from healthy one. One per
cent of victims will get cancer as a result of the
dsease. Exposure to the virus has jumped from 2
percent to 30 percent in the past four years,
according to research.
Because it’s a relatively new disease, Epstein
barr was often mistaken for multiple sclerosis,
Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia, lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis and heart conditions.
The author of the article, Hillary Johnson, is a
victim of the disease. She described her bout
with it as tumbling ‘‘into a deep, dark hole” and
“spinning head over heels into blackness.”
She described her affliction as an “appalling
weakness.” She was soon unable to walk, take a
shower, brush her teeth, hold a conversation or
continue her job.
Physicians and researchers foresee the dis
ease as an “important problem.” In Portland,
Ore., the National CEBV Syndrome Association
has received thousands of inquiries. Doctors are
setting up a national CEBV surveillance network.
Munchies, music to be on plaza
rrom biarr neports
Students will get a chance to drop their books
and party on the plaza near Broyhill Fountain
Tuesday night.
Party on the Plaza, sponsored for the third
yaar by ASUN, will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Co
sponsor KRFX-FM will broadcast live from the
north side of the Nebraska Union.
I
ocnioizsKy s sanawicn shops, Kunza Drive
Inns, Colby Ridge Popcorn and Pepsi Cola have
donated food and beverages.
ASUN President Andy Pollock said he hopes
the event will be repeated in the future.
“It’s worked out well ... it just gives the
students a chance to kind of relax after their
first couple days of classes.”
The event is free to all students.
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