Common virus plus low sunlight exposure may increase risk of multiple sclerosis

This study showed that a combined effect of Epstein Barr virus infection and low sunlight, which also leads to Vitamin D deficiency were able to explain a great deal of the incidence of multiple sclerosis in the UK. A recent paper also highlighted a relationship of the Epstein-Barr virus with Vitamin D related genes , and also of the possible relationship of a Synechococcus phage to multiple sclerosis. The ecology of this phage and its cyanobacterial hosts are closely related to sunlight.