Singer Anitta, who has already been diagnosed with endometriosis, has contracted the EpsteinBarr virus, which is responsible for kissing disease. In a press conference for actress Ludmila Dayer’s documentary Eu, the Envolver hitmaker spoke candidly about confirming the illness, which she considered “the most difficult moment of her life.”
Ludmila from “Malhação” (2000) had already announced her fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) caused by the same virus in September. According to Anitta, her relationship with the actress was very important at the beginning of treatment.
“When the results came in, I had the same virus as Ludmila in the initial stages. Nowadays there is no coincidence. Fortunately, I didn’t make it as far as Ludmila,” said the 29yearold singer.
Understand the EpsteinBarr virus
The EpsteinBarr virus, which is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis, the “kissing disease”, is also a causative agent of multiple sclerosis. MS attacks the central nervous system, causing injuries to the brain and spinal cord.
In addition, other diseases caused by EpsteinBarr include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.
The virus is found in about 95% of adults and is transmitted through saliva and by sharing toothbrushes, glasses, cutlery or contaminated objects. Infection begins asymptomatically, followed by flulike symptoms such as cough, neck swelling, joint pain, tonsillitis, skin irritation, fever, fatigue, and pain when swallowing.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the transmission period of the virus is more than a year. But even after inactivity, reactivations still occur.