WHO says, genital herpes affects 1 in 5 young adults worldwide

As per the estimate of World Health Organization (WHO), around 846 million people aged between 15 and 49 are living with

genital herpes

infections, which makes it more than 1 in 5 of this age group globally. According to new estimates released recently, at least 1 person each second, 42 million people annually is estimated to acquire a new genital herpes infection, with an annual economic burden of $35 billion globally.

What does the research say?

The research team led by senior researcher Katherine Looker, an infectious disease epidemiologist with the University of Bristol in the U.K. said that, “Herpes simplex virus infections are widely prevalent in all global regions, leading to a significant burden of genital ulcer disease with repercussions on psychosocial, sexual and reproductive health, neonatal transmission, and HIV transmission.”

For the study, researchers pooled data from studies published up to March 2022 on the spread of herpes. The team then used mathematical modelling to estimate just how widespread the STI had become. The data indicate that 26 million people under 50 became newly infected with herpes simplex 2 in 2020, joining an estimated 520 million who already carry the infection. That means that more than 13% of people in that age group carry herpes simplex 2, researchers said.

Data also showed that an estimated 17 million people under 50 acquired a herpes simplex 1 infection genitally in 2020, joining 376 million already infected. Herpes simplex 1 primarily is spread in childhood by mouth contact, but is increasingly being spread through sexual contact at older ages, the researchers noted.
Although rare, herpes can be passed to newborns by their mothers, an infection that often proves fatal, the researchers noted. The study added that, herpes also triples a person’s risk of contracting HIV. Despite this, the researchers noted that, hardly any programs exist for herpes prevention and control, even in wealthy nations.
This is likely due to a lack of new treatments and vaccines that could control the spread of herpes. The researchers wrote, “Available prevention [methods], including condoms and antiviral therapy, are insufficient to control infection transmission and have, at best, had a modest population impact in reducing incidence rates.” The team added in a journal news release, “There is a need for

herpes simplex virus

prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines as a strategic approach to control transmission and to curb the disease and economic burdens of these infections.”
While many individuals experience no or few symptoms, WHO reveals that over 200 million people suffered at least one symptomatic episode in 2020. These episodes often involve painful sores and blisters, requiring frequent healthcare visits.
A study published in Sexually Transmitted Infections, states, “New treatments and vaccines are needed to reduce adverse health effects of the herpes virus and control its spread.”

What is genital herpes?

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can cause painful blisters and sores on the genitals, rectum, buttocks, and thighs. Other symptoms include:
Fever, body aches, or swollen glands
Unusual vaginal discharge
Burning when urinating
Bleeding between periods
Genital herpes can be spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. It can also be transmitted even when there are no symptoms present.
There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are treatments that can help:
Medications: Can help reduce symptoms, speed up healing, and make you less contagious.
Condoms: Can reduce the risk of catching or spreading herpes.
Some people with genital herpes don't experience any symptoms for extended periods, but they can still shed the virus. The severity of the virus varies over time, and symptoms become milder over time.

How does genital herpes impact people?

As per Dr Meg Doherty, Director of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes at WHO, “While most people with a genital herpes infection experience few symptoms, with so many infections genital herpes still causes pain and distress for millions globally and strains already overburdened health systems.”
Dr Doherty stressed the importance of developing better prevention and treatment options, noting that such are urgently needed to reduce herpes transmission and will also contribute to reducing the transmission of HIV.

How to destigmatise genital herpes?

According to Dr Sami Gottlieb, WHO Medical Officer and co-author of the report, “Stigma around genital herpes means it has been discussed too little, despite affecting millions of people globally. Not enough has been done to address this common infection.”
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