The Epstein-Barr virus is a virus responsible for infectious mononucleosis (also known as glandular fever), an illness that occurs worldwide in teenagers and young adults. The symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscular aches, sore throats, and enlarged lymph nodes.

 

Epstein-Barr virus is also implicated in the causation of a number of other diseases, in particular Burkitt's lymphoma, a common childhood cancer in Central Africa. The virus is spread by droplet infection.