#5 – Epstein–Barr Virus: Why Almost Everyone Gets Infected

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common human viruses, infecting around 90–95 percent of adults worldwide. In this episode, Florian Krammer explains the biology of EBV, a herpesvirus with a large DNA genome and a complex life cycle that includes both active replication and lifelong latent infection in B cells. The discussion covers how EBV spreads through saliva and close contact, why primary infection in adolescents often leads to infectious mononucleosis, and how the virus can persist silently in the body for decades.