Animal Virus May Contribute to Mental Illness: ‘A virus that infects animals but is thought to be relatively harmless to humans might possibly contribute to some cases of mental illness, according to a virologist who presented the controversial evidence at a meeting here Wednesday.

Prof. Norbert Nowotny, from the University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna, told researchers at the meeting that Borna disease virus, which causes a fatal brain disease in animals, might be linked to schizophrenia, depression and chronic fatigue syndrome in humans.’ Reuters