Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a member of the herpes virus family. It is one of the most common human viruses. EBV is found ...SkipdirectlytositecontentSkipdirectlytopageoptionsSkipdirectlytoA-ZlinkEpstein-BarrVirusandInfectiousMononucleosisSectionNavigationCDCHomeFacebookTwitterLinkedInSyndicateAboutEpstein-BarrVirus(EBV)Español(Spanish)MinusRelatedPagesOnThisPageSymptomsTransmissionDiagnosisPrevention&TreatmentEpstein-Barrvirus(EBV),alsoknownashumanherpesvirus4,isamemberoftheherpesvirusfamily.Itisoneofthemostcommonhumanviruses.EBVisfoundallovertheworld.MostpeoplegetinfectedwithEBVatsomepointintheirlives.EBVspreadsmostcommonlythroughbodilyfluids,primarilysaliva.EBVcancauseinfectiousmononucleosis,alsocalledmono,andotherillnesses.SymptomsSymptomsofEBVinfectioncanincludefatiguefeverinflamedthroatswollenlymphnodesintheneckenlargedspleenswollenliverrashManypeoplebecomeinfectedwithEBVinchildhood.EBVinfectionsinchildrenusuallydonotcausesymptoms,orthesymptomsarenotdistinguishablefromothermild,briefchildhoodillnesses.PeoplewhogetsymptomsfromEBVinfection,usuallyteenagersoradults,getbetterintwotofourweeks.However,somepeoplemayfeelfatiguedforseveralweeksorevenmonths.AfteryougetanEBVinfection,thevirusbecomeslatent(inactive)inyourbody.Insomecases,thevirusmayreactivate.Thisdoesnotalwayscausesymptoms,butpeoplewithweakenedimmunesystemsaremorelikelytodevelopsymptomsifEBVreactivates.EBVSpreadsEasilyEBVisspreadbysalivathrough:kissingsharingdrinksandfoodusingthesamecups,eatingutensils,ortoothbrusheshavingcontactwithtoysthatchildrenhavedrooledonTransmissionEBVspreadsmostcommonlythroughbodilyfluids,especiallysaliva.However,EBVcanalsospreadthroughbloodandsemenduringsexualcontact,bloodtransfusions,andorgantransplantations.EBVcanbespreadbyusingobjects,suchasatoothbrushordrinkingglass,thataninfectedpersonrecentlyused.Thevirusprobablysurvivesonanobjectatleastaslongastheobjectremainsmoist.ThefirsttimeyougetinfectedwithEBV(primaryEBVinfection)youcanspreadthevir