International Herpes Week 2004 (10th- 16th October 2004)

International Herpes Week 2004 is encouraging people throughout the world to be more open about herpes. The theme for the Week, 'I have herpes, don't you', highlights the fact that the viruses which cause genital and facial herpes are extremely common - the IHA has estimated that at least 50% of the world's population carries HSV-1, HSV-2 or both.

Despite the fact that the viruses are so widespread, many people affected by herpes, particularly those with genital herpes, feel embarrassed or ashamed. Tackling this perceived stigma and improving understanding of herpes are the key aims of the fifth International Herpes Week campaign.

Charlie Ebel, President of the IHA comments: "There is no doubt that herpes still carries a certain social stigma in some countries. This can act as a barrier, discouraging people from seeking medical help or talking openly with their sexual partners. The aims of International Herpes Week are to challenge this outdated stigma, to reassure people that herpes is a very common condition that can usually be effectively managed and to encourage them to talk openly and honestly about their condition."

To support the Week, the IHA has produced a range of materials including:

· Campaign press release
· Factsheet on herpes
· Poster
· New leaflet
· New shared experience
· Animation showing transmission of the herpes virus

All materials can be downloaded from the IHA website.

The IHA has also released the results of its latest voting poll, which provides further evidence that many people with genital herpes find it difficult to talk openly to other people. According to the poll, more than half (54%) of those diagnosed with genital herpes have only told health workers and their partner(s) that they have been infected and almost half (46.2%) of respondents sometimes or always fail to tell sexual partners they have genital herpes. Click here for the full results of the poll.

To kick off the 2004 Campaign, the theme of the stigma associated with genital herpes is being explored at the Conference on Sexually Transmitted Infections organised by the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) in Myconos Greece on 7th-9th October 2004. A satellite symposium on Friday 8th October is considering The Management of Genital Herpes in the Modern World - Addressing the Myths and a media roundtable is being organised on 9th October on the topic The First Dialogue on STDs: Genital Herpes - Addressing the Stigma.

As a result of regular campaigns such as this, public awareness of genital herpes has increased significantly. Please support International Herpes Week 2004 in any way you can. To help us keep track of activities throughout the world, please send details of events in your region to the IHA Secretariat at herpes@packerforbes.com.