HQ Team
December 12, 2024: About one person every second or 42 million people each year are estimated to contract genital herpes infection worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Around 846 million people aged between 15 and 49 and more than one in five in this age group are living with genital herpes infections globally, according to new estimates released by the WHO.
Often, these infections cause no or few symptoms. However, for some people, they lead to painful genital sores and blisters that can recur throughout life, causing significant discomfort and often requiring multiple healthcare visits. More than 200 million people aged 15 to 49 suffered at least one such symptomatic episode in 2020.
“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,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes at WHO.
“Better prevention and treatment options are urgently needed to reduce herpes transmission and will also contribute to reducing the transmission of HIV.”
No cure
There is no cure for herpes, although treatments can relieve symptoms. In addition to sores, genital herpes can also on occasion lead to serious complications, including neonatal herpes – a rare condition most likely to occur when a mother acquires the infection for the first time in late pregnancy and then transmits the virus to her baby during childbirth.
There are two types of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), known as HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which can lead to genital herpes.
About 520 million people in 2020 had genital HSV-2, which is transmitted during sexual activity. From a public health perspective, genital HSV-2 is more serious since it is substantially more likely to cause recurrent outbreaks.
The HSV-2 accounts for around 90% of symptomatic episodes and is linked to a three-fold increased risk of getting HIV.
Saliva, skin-to-skin
HSV-1 primarily spreads during childhood through saliva or skin-to-skin contact around the mouth to cause oral herpes, with cold sores or mouth ulcers the most common symptoms.
In those without previous infection, HSV-1 can be acquired through sexual contact to cause genital infection in adolescence or adulthood. Nearly 376 million people are estimated to have had genital HSV-1 infections in 2020. Of these, 50 million are estimated also to have HSV-2 as it is possible to have both types at the same time.
Several countries have observed changing patterns of transmission in HSV-1, with adult genital infections increasing as childhood oral infections decline.
Reduced oral spread during childhood may be linked to factors like less crowded living conditions and improved hygiene, which then increases susceptibility to the virus at older ages.
Social stigma
“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,” said Dr Sami Gottlieb, an author of the report.
“Expanded research and investment in developing new herpes vaccines and therapies, and their equitable use, could play a critical role in improving quality of life for people around the world.”
Correct and consistent use of condoms reduces risks of herpes transmission even though they are not fully effective at stopping its spread.
People with active symptoms should avoid sexual contact with other people, since herpes is most contagious when sores are present, according to the report.
WHO recommends that people with symptoms of genital herpes should be offered HIV testing and if needed, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.
