Babbage: Could a vaccine finally end multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating condition, affecting 1.8m people worldwide. It occurs when a patient’s immune system attacks the fatty tissue that insulates the nerve cells. In 2022, scientists identified the trigger for this reaction: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common pathogen that causes glandular fever (the “kissing disease”). That discovery opened up new treatment options for MS and raises a tantalising question—could the disease one day be eliminated entirely with a vaccine?

Host: Alok Jha, The Economist's science and technology editor. Contributors: Petros Iosifidis, who describes his experience living with MS; Evan Irving-Pease of the University of Copenhagen; Ruth Dobson of Queen Mary University of London; Jessica Durkee-Shock of the National Institutes of Health.

Get a world of insights for 50% off—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+

If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.