Multiple Sclerosis Queensland

With approximately 60 per cent of people with multiple sclerosis experiencing pain, a booklet has been developed for people with MS, their families and carers to provide practical information on managing pain.

Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) is conducting a global survey to discover how having MS impacts employment. The global body, which links the activities of national MS societies around the world, will release the findings on World MS Day – held this year on May 26.

According to MSIF, the largest economic impact of MS is early retirement.  The survey, which takes about five minutes to complete, is hoped to give new insight into the issues surrounding working with MS.

This year’s World MS Day is based on the theme of employment.  For more information or to take the survey, click here.

Researchers in the United States have discovered a strong link between the Epstein-Barr virus, one of the world’s most common human viruses, and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. 

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Walter Reed Army Institute found the likelihood of MS increases when a person is infected with EBV.  Their findings implicate EBV – a herpes virus – as a “contributory cause” of the disease.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals not infected with EBV were observed over several years and researchers were able to determine the point when individuals developed the virus and its relation to MS onset.