[Albion] Evan Ferguson **Loaned to West Ham 03/02/2025**

[Zeberdi]

If you are saying that were Fergy infected with EVB (which causes mono, aka glandular fever) this would have been identified by the club doctor,
and this would have been factored into his rehabilitation.
And there is every chance this would have become public knowledge,
becuse there is no value in the club hiding an illness such as this and allowing everyone to speculate till red in the face.

So I think you are probably right.

However I also suspect that we shall never know the truth.
Unless, armed with the true facts, Lord Lucan rides into the Amex on Shergar to reveal all.

‘Epstein Barr Virus’ - EBV

I had Glandular fever/EB at the age of 19 - as many young people do (aka the ‘kissing disease’) but the complications from EB can include post-viral fatigue (ME) which can last for years and which I was diagnosed with. One tests negative for the virus at that point but as you say, the effects can linger.

Every time I had any kind of viral infection, I got a flare up of ME but not Glandular fever again.

There is also a further complication in that many people carry antibodies for Epstein Barr (having had glandular fever/the virus/come into contact with the virus) but the antibodies they are left with themselves cause an autoimmune response which can be triggered by stress and fatigue. While the autoimmune response has symptoms of Epstein Barr and ME/post-viral fatigue, one still tests negative for the actual virus.

If Ferguson had Glandular Fever last season, it is definitely not possible to rule out ME or autoimmune EB and why a Club would still want to sign a talented player who has that - as it would be a case of managing fatigue, exercise levels, stress and diet. It is something that improves with time.