Billions globally have often painful herpes infection

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that new estimates show about half a billion people globally have genital herpes and several billion are living with an oral herpes infection.

In 2016, the latest year for which data is available, about 13% of the world’s population aged 15-49 had herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. HSV-2 causes genital herpes, being almost exclusively transmitted sexually. In up to a third of infected people, it can result in recurring, frequently hurting, genital sores.

Oral herpes infection is caused mostly by oral to oral transmission of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It can sometimes result in hurting sores in or around the mouth (cold sores). HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes, being transmitted to the genital area through oral sex.

In 2016, around 67% of the world’s population aged 0-49, or an estimated 3.7 billion people, were living with HSV-1 infection. Although most of these infections were oral, 122 to 192 million people were estimated to have genital HSV-1 infection.

WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research director Dr. Ian Askew said, “Genital herpes is a substantial health concern worldwide – beyond the potential pain and discomfort suffered by people living with the infection, the associated social consequences can have a profound effect on sexual and reproductive health.”

It is at least three times more likely that people who are infected with HSV-2 will get human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), if exposed. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

Globally, thus, HSV-2 possibly has a big part in the increase of HIV cases, with women being more at risk to contracting both HIV and HSV-2. WHO says that women in its Africa Region, having the largest HSV-2 prevalence rate and susceptibility to HIV, are at greatest risk of HIV infection.

Herpes has no cure. Antiviral medications, like valacyclovir, famciclovir and acyclovir, can assist in reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms, however.

In addition to better understanding, high access to antiviral drugs and increased HIV prevention efforts for people with genital HSV symptoms the world over, development of advanced treatment and prevention interventions is required, especially vaccines.

WHO Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programmes director Dr. Meg Doherty stated, “A vaccine against HSV infection would not only help to promote and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, particularly women, worldwide – it could also potentially have an impact on slowing the spread of HIV, if developed and provided alongside other HIV prevention strategies.”