One in five adults worldwide has Herpes, says new study

New research in the British Medical Journal has highlighted an increase in Herpes Simplex Virus infections and genital ulcer disease in 2020. Between 2016 and 2020, researchers estimate that global Herpes infections have risen to the extent that the virus now infects 846 million people aged 15 to 49. At least one person each second—around 42 million people annually—is estimated to acquire a new infection.

This raises questions about the efficacy of public health and prevention strategies. While not serious and asymptomatic in most cases, Herpes can cause pain and distress in many people who get it.

Are you worried about Herpes? Put your mind at ease with a comprehensive sexual health test.

Get tested

What is Herpes?

Most people have heard of Herpes in some way, whether it’s the sexually transmitted infection that causes irritation in the genitals or the virus that causes cold sores around the mouth.

The study quoted above suggests that Herpes is far more common than many people believe. The majority of Herpes infections don’t cause symptoms, and the ones that do cause symptoms are usually fairly minor.

However, some Herpes infections can cause serious distress to the people who end up infected.

Herpes infections can be divided into two different types: Oral Herpes and Genital Herpes.

Oral Herpes, (almost always caused by the type of Herpes we have named HSV-1), is an oral STI caused by a virus that infects your nerve endings. The virus periodically migrates to the skin, causing outbreaks of small fluid-filled blisters around the mouth. These blisters erupt and scab over after a few days as the outbreak calms down. The appearance of blisters may also be accompanied by headaches, body aches, flu-like symptoms, and pain and itching around the site of infection.

Almost all people in Europe over the age of 30 how antibodies against this virus, even if they don’t remember ever having had oral Herpes. This shows just how common it really is, but also shows that it’s far from being an incapacitating disease for many people.

Genital Herpes, (normally caused by the HSV-2 version of the virus, but sometimes due to the HSV-1 through oral sex), tends to infect the genital area. When contracted, on the first outbreak, the infection can cause:

Small fluid-filled blisters that burst, leaving open sores which eventually scab over
Pain when passing urine
A general feeling of being unwell
Aches, pains, and flu-like symptoms
Burning, tingling, and itching sensations

The first outbreak of these blisters is usually the worst. Outbreaks tend to recur periodically with less intense symptoms than the first outbreak.

HSV-2 typically produces more outbreaks than HSV-1, with the average number per year being around 2. Some cases don’t need treating as they are so minor, but having severe symptoms or many outbreaks needs help from your doctor to use antiviral tablets whenever the outbreak is starting.

How do you get Herpes?

Both versions of the virus are very contagious. The virus usually spreads when one person touches the blisters or sores of the infected person. Genital Herpes tends to pass on through sex and foreplay, while Oral Herpes tends to pass on through kissing and touching. Many of us catch Oral Herpes when we’re children, kissing family members who had the virus.

With all that said, it’s possible to get an Oral Herpes infection around the genitals and a Genital Herpes infection in your mouth. This happens, of course, when there is oral sex.

Herpes can be tested in urine, blood, and swab samples, though blood and urine are used most often. Urine is usually only useful during a current infection if the virus is present in the urethra (the tube we urinate through).

While a Herpes infection can’t be completely cured, the symptoms can be managed with antiretroviral medication.

Why do so many people have Herpes?

While Herpes is highly contagious, the BMJ study drew attention to insufficient prevention and education efforts in WHO regions:

“HSV infections are at a high incidence and prevalence in all global regions, leading to significant disease and economic burden with repercussions on clinical sequelae and psychosocial, sexual, and reproductive health, neonatal transmission, and HIV transmission. Available prevention modalities are insufficient to control infection transmission, and have had, at best, modest population impact. There is a need for HSV prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines as a strategic approach to control transmission and to curb the disease and economic burden of these infections.”

The 2020 estimates reproduced in the study reveal that the prevalence of genital HSV-2 remains almost unchanged from when the last study was done in 2016. However, there has been an increase in genital HSV-1 cases. In recent years, several countries have noticed a shift in HSV-1 transmission patterns, with a rise in adult genital infections and a decline in childhood oral infections. This reduction in oral transmission during childhood may be attributed to less overcrowding at home and better hygiene practices, subsequently increasing susceptibility to the virus later in life.

Unfortunately, all attempts at creating a decent vaccine have failed, and we still don’t have the technology to know how to design better ones.

The authors of the study go on to say the following:

“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…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.”

Although condoms are not completely effective in preventing the spread of Herpes, their correct and consistent use can significantly reduce the risk of transmission. Individuals who notice any active symptoms should refrain from sexual contact until they’re symptom-free, as Herpes is most contagious when sores are visible, but can still linger while sores are healing.

This general guideline of how to act when you feel your Herpes is becoming active again is extremely effective in halting its spread to your sexual partners.

Final thoughts

While Herpes infections can’t be cured, symptoms can be managed with the right treatment. And while they don’t offer complete protection, condoms can reduce the level of transmission of all STIs including Herpes.

If you think you may have been exposed to Herpes, get in touch with Better2Know today to secure an appointment at a sexual health clinic near you.