Your brain is probably infected with WHAT right now

Morning from Central Alberta — five communities, one correspondent, and all the stories the big papers forgot.

Well now, I heard this one come across the wire this morning and I tell ya, it made me spill my coffee, and I usually have a pretty steady hand. Turns out, that 'brain-eating' amoeba we hear about sometimes, the one that lives in warm freshwater and usually only gets people who go swimming where they probably shouldn't? Yeah, apparently, we're likely all infected with a *different* kind of brain-eating virus, and most of us don't even know it. Doctors thought these fatal brain infections only happened in folks with real compromised immune systems, but new research is saying "hold your horses."

### Your Brain's Uninvited Guest

I'll tell you what, this one's a real head-scratcher. The new information suggests that a specific virus, something called *human herpesvirus 6* (HHV-6), is way more common in our brains than anyone thought.

* It's a type of herpes virus, but not the kind that gives you cold sores or other common stuff.

* Researchers found it in the brains of nearly *everyone* they looked at – not just sick people.

* It's usually dormant, just kinda hangin' out. But sometimes, it can reactivate and cause some serious trouble, including potentially fatal inflammation.

They're saying it's been living in our brains for, well, a long time, and we're just now figuring out how prevalent it is and what it might actually be up to. Makes you wonder what other hitchhikers we've got in there, don't it? Up here in Red Deer, we worry about West Nile from the mosquitoes or the odd bear wandering into town, not some invisible critter already set up shop in our grey matter. Makes that morning drive down Taylor Drive feel a little different when you're wondering what's been livin' rent-free in your skull.

Wyatt Brandt, MiTL Sports Desk, Red Deer.

You can bet Keith and the boys will be chewing on this one come morning, catch 'em live at mornings.live.