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Two-thirds of the world's population under 50 have the highly infectious herpes virus that causes cold sores around the mouth, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, in its first estimate of global prevalence of the disease.
More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 suffer from the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), usually after catching it in childhood, according to a the WHO study.
That is in addition to 417 million people in the 17-49 age range who have the other form of the disease, HSV-2, which causes genital herpes.
According to TechInsider :
One of the biggest issues is that public-health efforts have focused primarily on preventing HSV-2 infections, the researchers write, not HSV-1 infections. But the latter can actually pose more serious risks than just cold sores.
What's more, according to the new report, is that sexually transmitted HSV-1 is on the rise, especially in the Americas, Europe, and the Western Pacific.
Aside from those cold sores, HSV-1 is the most common cause of sporadic encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). And while this brain infection is very rare, it kills more than 50% of those infected if left untreated, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The original WHO study was published on October 28, in the journal Plos One.
(Score: 2) by black6host on Monday November 02 2015, @09:04PM
I've had both. No fun. Though I'd take chicken pox over shingles any day. All this means nothing though if I can't eat bacon. These folks are just chock full of good news these days... :)
(Score: 2) by Mr Big in the Pants on Tuesday November 03 2015, @02:52AM
I would double down on the shingles. And when you read that shingles is a version of herpes you do tend to have an "ewwwwww" reaction even though it makes no sense!
My retired mother just got it out of the blue in her eye. (one of the worst places to get it) Constant pain, angry welts, head aches, fatigue and blurred vision.
Lasted over a year with several flare ups. And the pain medication does next to nothing to help because its in the nerves themselves. Also she had just bought new glasses and now has to replace the lenses due to her vision being permanently changed.
Not something you want, not really something you can prevent at this stage.
Sucks all round...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 03 2015, @06:47AM
I was lucky. I went to my Dr. and he knew immediately what it was. And it was on the edge of my eye. I had an emergency appointment for my eyes in 45 minutes. Luckily it did not spread there. And it truly is miserable. I feel for the pain your mother went through.