It turns out stupidity may really be contagious. So forget Ebola, you should be more worried about the ATCV-1 virus.

Scientist have just discovered that the ATCV-1 virus, which is commonly found in algae, has begun to infect humans.

Researchers were studying various throat microbes when they happened to notice the the ATCV-1 virus was present in about 44% of their test subjects.

So what does that mean for you? Well you could be infected and not even know it.

The virus has been linked to lower attention spans and decreased spatial awareness, and a “statistically significant decrease in the performance on cognitive assessments of visual processing and visual motor speed.”

During animal testing of the virus, researchers observed that mice infected with the virus took 10% longer to find their way out of a maze and spent 20% less time exploring new items.

They also found that race, sex, income level, education level and even cigarette smoking have no apparent effect on the virus, meaning it doesn't matter who you are, you're at risk of catching this stupidity virus.

Now other than the decreased intelligence, it doesn't appear that there are any other side effects to the virus that you need to worry about.

According to Professor James L. Van Etten of the University of Nebraska there is “no reason to believe that [the viruses] are contagious among people or animals”.

So how do you explain the spread of the virus to so many people?

Van Etten has an answer. “My best guess is that these viruses may infect another microorganism besides the algae that we have been studying... This other microorganism may be the way that the virus gets into the throat.”

Needless to say the research team has shifted gears and are now focusing on the ATCV-1 virus to figure out how it is infecting so many people and if there is anything you can do once you have it.

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