<p>I just got a shocking phone call. Someone I know suddenly passed away. This was completely unexpected. She was sick, but nobody saw this coming. She was 40 years old, a wife, a daughter, and mother of two beautiful boys. I was told that she passed away from the Epstein Barr virus. Out of curiousity, I briefly looked up this virus, and read that it is rarely fatal. Has anybody ever heard of anyone dying from this? It is so unreal, and just so so sad. The person who told me about her dying, mentioned that an autopsy is being done. This woman was so alive and full of energy, so sweet and kind, and vibrant before becoming ill.</p>
<p>I’m sorry. You must be so upset.</p>
<p>It’s a very common virus, causes mono but some other minor things. Maybe she had some complication.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s the virus that causes mono, among other things. I expect Muffy’s right - your friend must have had some hidden or unexpected complications. </p>
<p>I’m sorry, northeastmom. That’s sad news.</p>
<p>Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that… I’m not a virologist, but as I recall, chronic EBV infections, while quite rare, can be lethal.</p>
<p>Muffy, I am in absolute shock.</p>
<p>She was not feeling well since December.</p>
<p>Going on what I learned in school (and remember) a thousand years ago, so take it with many grains…</p>
<p>EBV can cause many different illnesses, depending on the population. In Japanese men, EBV can cause nasopharyngeal cancer; in sub-Saharan African children, it can cause a type of cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma. In the US, people who are infected as young children (pre-school, K) get a runny nose, and those infected in their teens (HS, college) get mono. And so on.</p>
<p>(Please remember more recent research on this virus might have made all the above info completely invalid… so I may not know what I’m talking about. Again.)</p>
<p>So it’s a virus that plays many roles, alas.</p>
<p>NEM, I’m very sorry for your loss.</p>
<p>northeastmom, I am so sorry for your loss. H had EBV over 15 years ago, was pretty much lethargic but slowly bounced back after a few months.</p>
<p>What a menacing virus…unbelievable that it can be such a chameleon. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.</p>
<p>mountains, you usually do get better, like your husband, thankfully did. This situation is unusual, but it doesn’t make it less tragic. Thanks mountains, and astrophysicsmom.</p>
<p>EBV is a herpes virus and can cause a lot of problems, but people very rarely die directly from EBV infection unless they have seriously compromised immune systems such as in AIDS or more commonly in immunsuppressed transplantation patients.</p>
<p>coureur, I am unaware of those situations being the case here.</p>
<p>NEM, so sorry to hear about your friend. My cousin had EBV years ago, and it took her a long time to recover. While EBV is not normally fatal, illnesses are not always predictable.</p>
<p>NEM-
So sorry to hear of you unexpected loss. This has been one awful day. DSo many tragic losses of young, vibrant lives. My thoughts are with you.</p>
<p>kelsmom and jym, thanks. </p>
<p>Jym, I have been thinking about all of these losses all afternoon and evening.</p>