Genital
herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause blisters and open sores
in the genital area but can also be asymptomatic.
The World
Health Organization’s latest study indicates at least one in five adults worldwide has a
genital herpes infection .
In Kenya, more
than a third of people are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),
according to a past study by Guttmacher Institute.
Most of the time, 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.
According to the new WHO estimates, more than 200 million people aged 15 to 49 globally suffered at least
one such symptomatic episode in 2020.
African region had the highest HSV-2 incidence for both
females and males at nearly 10 million infections, accounting for 38.3 per cent of all infections.
The authors of the study, published in the journal Sexually
Transmitted Infections, say that new treatments and vaccines are needed to
reduce adverse health effects of the herpes virus and control its spread.
“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.”
The study
is titled, “Estimated global and regional incidence and prevalence of herpes
simplex virus infections and genital ulcer disease in 2020: mathematical
modelling analyses.”
Currently, 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. According to the
estimates, 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,
accounts for around 90 per
cent of symptomatic episodes, and is linked to a three-fold increased
risk of getting HIV.
Unlike HSV-2, 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, however, HSV-1 can be
acquired through sexual contact to cause genital infection in adolescence or
adulthood.
About 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.
While the 2020 estimates show virtually no difference in the
prevalence of genital HSV-2 compared to 2016, estimated genital HSV-1
infections are higher. Over recent years, 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. The authors note that
these increases may also partially reflect changes in methods and additional
data sources.
“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 and Medical Officer within WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive
Health and Research.
“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.”