From human herpesvirus family (1 of 8) = “HHV-5”
Causes “glandular fever” / “infectious mononucleosis”
Transmitted by oral & genital secretions, urine, blood, breast milk & congenital
Infects multiple cells types & develops into a latent infection
Infection has occurred in ~50% of adults
More severe with increasing age
Congenital infection can cause:
Reactivation can occur at random or when immunocomprimsied