There is a significant variation in the prevalence of the HSV virus across Europe, according to new research published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

The aim of the study was to compare levels of HSV infection in eight European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England and Wales, Finland, Germany, Netherlands and Slovenia. Blood tests were used to determine the incidence of both HSV-1 (most commonly associated with facial herpes) and HSV-2 (most commonly associated with genital herpes) in each country in different age categories ranging from 1 to 65. Results were compared using standardised tests and evaluation methods.

Age standardised prevalence of HSV-1 ranged from 52% in Finland, to 57% in the Netherlands, 67% in Belgium, 81% in Czech Republic and 84% in Bulgaria. For HSV-2, the prevalence ranged from 24% in Bulgaria to 14% in Germany, 13% in Finland, 11% in Belgium, 9% in Netherlands, 6% in Czech Republic and 4% in England and Wales.

In all countries, the likelihood of testing positive for both types of HSV virus increased with age. Women were significantly more likely to be HSV-2 seropositive than men in six of the seven countries and to be HSV-1 positive in four of the seven countries, particularly in northern Europe.

Reference

Pebody RG et al
The seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in Europe
Sex Transm Infect 2004;80:185-191