New Delhi, December 11 (IANS). According to new estimates released by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, at least one person worldwide contracts ‘new genital herpes infection’ every second, or 42 million people annually.
The report said that about 846 million people, or more than 1 in 5 in the age group of 15 to 49 years, are suffering from ‘new genital herpes infection’.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV), better known as herpes, is a common infection that can cause painful blisters or ulcers. It spreads mainly through skin-to-skin contact. It is treatable but cannot be cured.
These infections usually cause no or very few symptoms, in some cases they cause painful genital sores and ulcers that may recur repeatedly throughout life, causing considerable discomfort and often multiple times to the doctor. There is a need to go near.
Estimates published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections showed that more than 200 million people suffered at least one such symptomatic episode in 2020.
“Most people with genital herpes infection have few symptoms, despite the large number of infections,” said Dr. Meg Doherty, director of the Global HIV Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Program at the World Health Organization. “also causes pain and suffering for millions of people around the world and puts pressure on already overburdened health systems.”
The worrying data calls for new treatments and vaccines to reduce the adverse health effects of the herpes virus and control its spread. Doherty said it would also help “reduce the transmission of HIV”.
There are two types of HSV, first HSV-1 and second HSV-2, both of which can cause genital herpes.
According to estimates, 520 million people in 2020 had genital HSV2, which is spread during sexual activity.
Genital HSV 2 is more serious and is much more likely to recur. Infection with this virus causes symptoms in about 90 percent of cases and is associated with a threefold increase in the risk of getting HIV.
Genital HSV2, on the other hand, is spread primarily in childhood through saliva or skin-to-skin contact around the mouth, causing oral herpes, with cold sores or mouth ulcers being the most common symptoms.
It can also spread through sexual contact. About 376 million people are estimated to have acquired genital HSV1 infection in 2020.
WHO said 50 million of these people are estimated to also have genital HSV2 because both types of infection can occur at the same time.
The report suggests correct and consistent use of condoms to reduce the risk of herpes transmission. Along with this, people with active symptoms have been advised to avoid sexual contact.
–IANS
MKS/AS
