Is the Epstein-Barr virus active

Answer 1

Yes. Children infected with it will typically show no symptoms, but if the infection occurs in early adulthood about one-third to one-half of patients will develop mononucleosis.

Following initial presentation, it continues to exist as a lifelong latent infection, but its ability for transformation is staggering; and recent research seems to implicate it in various pathogeneses in elderly hosts. Associated lymphomas have been known for 20 years or so. It has further consequences for the immune compromised and transplant recipients.

See:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8704180?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7663046?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=5&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed