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GENEVA, Switzerland — Did you know there has been a hidden epidemic sweeping the world? A new study finds nearly a billion people are dealing with a painful and socially traumatizing infection that has no cure.
More than one in five people between the ages of 15 and 49 are living with genital herpes — a staggering statistic that reveals a global health challenge largely shrouded in silence and stigma. The shocking findings, revealed by the World Health Organization (WHO), expose the widespread nature of this common sexually transmitted infection, with researchers calling for urgent action.
The numbers are eye-opening: approximately 846 million people worldwide carry genital herpes, with a new infection happening every single second — translating to 42 million new cases annually. Despite its prevalence, most people experience few or no symptoms, making the virus a “silent” health issue that often goes undetected and unaddressed.
“Stigma around genital herpes means it has been discussed too little, despite affecting millions of people globally,” says Dr. Sami Gottlieb, a medical officer at WHO, in a media release. “Not enough has been done to address this common infection.”
The study, published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections, reveals two distinct herpes virus types: HSV-1 and HSV-2. While HSV-2 is primarily transmitted through sexual contact and accounts for 90% of symptomatic episodes, HSV-1 traditionally spreads through oral contact, causing cold sores. However, changing social patterns are shifting transmission dynamics, with more adults acquiring genital infections as childhood oral infections decline.
For some individuals, the virus isn’t just a statistic — it can cause painful genital sores and recurring health challenges. In 2020, over 200 million people experienced at least one symptomatic episode, highlighting the real human impact behind these numbers.
Perhaps most alarmingly, genital herpes significantly increases HIV transmission risk, creating a complex public health challenge. The infection also poses rare but serious risks, such as neonatal herpes, which can occur when a mother contracts the virus during late pregnancy.
The economic burden is substantial, with an estimated $35 billion spent annually worldwide on healthcare and lost productivity. Despite these impacts, there’s currently no cure — only treatments to manage symptoms.
WHO researchers emphasize the urgent need for new prevention strategies. While condoms can reduce transmission risks and avoiding sexual contact during active outbreaks is recommended, the organization is pushing for more comprehensive solutions like vaccines and targeted therapies.
“Better prevention and treatment options are urgently needed to reduce herpes transmission and will also contribute to reducing the transmission of HIV,” Dr. Meg Doherty from WHO concludes.
Paper Summary
Methodology
The researchers used a sophisticated mathematical model to estimate the global and regional prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and genital ulcer disease (GUD) for 2020. They analyzed HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections separately, using a vast collection of data from systematic reviews and meta-analyses across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. Only studies with validated diagnostic methods were included.
By pooling and calibrating this data with demographic information, the model provided estimates for various age and gender groups. This approach allowed the researchers to update earlier estimates with more precise methods while addressing regional gaps in the available data.
Key Results
The study revealed some staggering numbers about HSV infections in 2020:
- About 25.6 million new HSV-2 infections occurred globally among people aged 15–49, with a total of 519.5 million people already living with HSV-2. This means about 13.3% of people in this age range had HSV-2.
- For genital HSV-1, there were 16.8 million new infections and 376.2 million people already living with it, equaling about 10.2% prevalence in the same age group.
- The combined prevalence of genital HSV-1 and HSV-2 was 846.1 million people worldwide.
- The total burden of genital ulcer disease (GUD) episodes caused by HSV was 204.6 million cases, with HSV-2 contributing to the majority.
The African region had the highest rates of HSV infections and GUD, particularly among young adults.
Study Limitations
In some regions, like the Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia, there was limited high-quality data, requiring assumptions and pooling from similar regions to fill gaps. HSV diagnostic methods can vary in sensitivity and specificity. Cross-reactivity between HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies may have affected the accuracy of some data points.
The model also assumed constant infection rates and relied on demographic data projections, which may not fully capture regional variations in transmission dynamics. The study primarily targeted individuals between ages 15 and 49, leaving some uncertainty about infection dynamics in older or younger populations.
Discussion & Takeaways
The study highlights the significant burden of HSV globally, with millions of people affected by genital infections and associated diseases like GUD. HSV-2 continues to be a major driver of sexually transmitted infections, while HSV-1 is increasingly being transmitted sexually among adults in high-income countries. The researchers emphasize the urgent need for better prevention measures, including vaccines, to reduce the global disease burden.
Additionally, greater public awareness and improvements in STI services could help curb the spread of these infections. The findings are critical for guiding future research, resource allocation, and policy development in sexual and reproductive health.
Funding & Disclosures
This study was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a grant from USAID as part of its Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes. Additional funding was provided by the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council, and the Qatar National Research Fund, as well as the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit at the University of Bristol in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency.
The authors disclosed no competing interests and noted that the views expressed in this article are solely their responsibility and do not necessarily reflect the policies or decisions of their affiliated institutions, including WHO.
According to Google: When did humans start getting herpes?
The viral family tree showed that HSV-2 was far more genetically similar to the herpes virus found in chimpanzees. This level of divergence indicated that humans must have acquired HSV-2 from an ancestor of modern chimpanzees about 1.6 million years ago, prior to the rise of modern humans roughly 200,000 years ago.
Sadly, I think herpes will be around for as long as the human vessel is around.
Never had an HIV. Never will. It’s called lifelong monogamy and it works.
Brought to you by the same ppl growing all the other viruses…..