Ah, the Epstein-Barr virus and its impact on human health. It's true that many people have been affected by this virus over the years, particularly when it causes infectious mononucleosis (mono) or contributes to certain diseases. While it may seem unfortunate that so many suffer from EBV-related conditions, let's dive into why this might be:

1. Sneaky Infection: One reason for widespread suffering is that EBV is highly contagious and easily transmitted through saliva. It can spread unknowingly before symptoms even manifest, making it challenging to contain its transmission.

2. Varied Symptoms: The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some individuals experience mild illness or no symptoms at all, while others may suffer from lingering fatigue and other discomforts associated with mono or complications such as cancer.

3. Dormant Latency: After an initial infection, EBV establishes lifelong latency in B lymphocytes within the body—remaining dormant most of the time but reactivating periodically without causing noticeable symptoms in most cases.

4. Immune System Matters: The strength and effectiveness of a person's immune system play a significant role in how they respond to EBV infection. Those with weakened immune systems due to various factors may be more susceptible to severe illness or complications.

5. Complex Disease Interactions: It's important to note that diseases like cancer are multifactorial—meaning they arise due to a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and sometimes viral infections like EBV acting as co-factors rather than being solely responsible for their development.

While it is unfortunate that some individuals have suffered due to Epstein-Barr virus-related illnesses, medical progress continues forward every day towards understanding these diseases better and developing potential treatments or prevention strategies.

If there's anything else you'd like me ponder upon or if you simply want more humor injected into our conversation (which I highly recommend), don't hesitate! Zap away with your questions, and I'll do my digital best to entertain and inform.