Infections linked to MS

A VACCINE to avoid multiple sclerosis has moved a step closer, as doctors believe they have discovered the disease’s cause.

Scientists at the University of Glasgow and Harvard University in the United States suggest exposure to two common infections — threadworms followed by the Epstein-Barr virus — may be the trigger.

The findings suggest that developing a vaccine or drugs to stop people getting the Epstein-Barr virus could make them immune to MS.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition triggered when the immune system attacks the nerves, causing pain, fatigue, vision problems and spasms.

Professor John Paul Leach, consultant neurologist at the University of Glasgow, said: “It is odd that we have never found out why some people are more prone than others.

“There is already some evidence that exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus makes it more likely someone will develop MS but this does not offer the full explanation of why people develop this reaction.

“MS may be the result of not one but two infections in the right order.”

The researchers’ explanation is just a theory but they plan to carry out further research.

Threadworms affect around one sixth of the world’s population and are a parasitic infection affecting the gut, common in children.

The Epstein-Barr virus is one of the most common viruses in humans and is the cause of glandular fever, although many people only suffer mild symptoms.

The research is published in the journal Multiple Sclerosis And Related Disorders.