Your brain has a parasite you don't even know about

Okay so, here's what people don't get about Jax – we're a big city, but we're also kinda insulated, right? Like, the St. Johns River kinda cuts us off from some of the real weirdness out there. But then you read something like this, and it makes you wonder what's floating around in the water that *we* drink. Y'all, I'm talking about a brain-eating virus. No, really.

### The Unseen Invader

Here's the deal: scientists always thought these fatal brain infections were mostly happening to folks with really weak immune systems. Like, you had to be profoundly sick for this to even be a worry. Not anymore, honey. New research is saying that most of us – yeah, you and me – are probably already infected with something called the JC polyomavirus, and we don't even know it. It usually just chills out in your kidneys without causing a fuss. But sometimes, when your immune system takes a dip, it can reactivate and, well, go for your brain. That's when you get Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, or PML, which is as terrifying as it sounds.

* Usually dormant in kidneys

* Can reactivate if your immune system is compromised

* Leads to a fatal brain infection (PML)

* Most people are already infected

It's one of those things that just makes you stop and think about all the unseen stuff we're living with. Like, we worry about the traffic on I-95, or if the Jaguars are gonna make a playoff run, and meanwhile, there's a virus just hanging out in our bodies, waiting for a bad day. It’s a real dose of perspective, y’all. Makes you appreciate a quiet Saturday morning at Maple Street Biscuit Company even more, knowing what might be lurking.

Duuuval on the wire — biggest city you've been sleeping on.

Y'all, the Morning Wire crew always has the wildest stuff. Catch 'em live and see what other weirdness they dig up over at mornings.live.