WHO Two out of three people are infected with herpes viruses

Genital version of the virus disease on the rise
Much of the world's population is infected with herpes. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Wednesday estimates that more than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The number of patients corresponds to about 67 percent of all people in this age group worldwide.

Herpes is a highly contagious viral disease and very common. Many sufferers are infected with the herpes virus in their childhood. The WHO announced that it is estimated that approximately 3.7 billion people are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). In addition, there are approximately 417 million people carrying herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Both variants are considered very contagious and incurable. The first global estimate of HSV-1 infection has now been published in the journal "PLoS ONE".

The WHO has published a report on the worldwide herpes infections, according to which almost two-thirds of people carry the virus. (Image: Cherries / fotolia.com)

Difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2
The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transmitted primarily by oral contact. The disease causes ulcers in and around the mouth. In contrast, the HSV-2 virus is transmitted almost completely sexually through skin-to-skin contact. This process then leads to genital herpes. This has long been known, but now the WHO discovered that HSV-1 is often also an important cause of genital herpes. In developed countries with higher health standards, fewer and fewer people are infected with the HSV-1 virus in their childhood. This condition is due to better existing hygiene and living conditions. However, the WHO warns that such people are at risk of contracting genital herpes through oral sex when they start to become sexually active.

Half a billion people suffer from genital herpes
Access to education and information about both types of herpes and sexually transmitted infections is crucial to the health of young people, said the physician Dr. Marleen Temmerman, Director of the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research in an opinion. In January, 417 million people aged 15 to 49 will have HSV-2 infection, the World Health Organization estimates. Taken together, the estimates show that more than half a billion people under the age of 50 are now suffering from genital herpes. The disease is caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2. The new estimates show that it is very important to improve data collection on the two disease types and sexually transmitted infections, Dr. Temmerman in a statement.

No effective treatments or medicines for herpes present
At the present time, there is no possibility for treatment or permanently effective medication for either infection. The WHO and its helpers are working to accelerate the development of vaccines. Several vaccines and microbicides for the infection are currently being tested for their effectiveness. It is difficult to determine the proportion of HSV-infected people worldwide because the symptoms may be low or simply not recognized as herpes. Herpes is a lifelong infection and can be detected by the presence of antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 in the blood. The symptoms of genital herpes usually occur in the form of one or more painful blisters in the genital or anal area.

Virus strains the psyche of many infected people
In the transmission of herpes in many cases, no symptoms are observed. However, with the onset of first symptoms, there may be a significant negative impact on the mental health and personal relationships of the patients. People with an obvious herpes infection are often confronted with a social stigma, which can then turn into mental stress, the experts say. In rare cases, HSV-1 infection can also lead to serious complications, such as encephalitis (brain inflammation) or eye disease. WHO is currently working to develop an effective strategy that will help reduce and combat sexually transmitted infections globally.