Herpes - The Social Climbing STI
New data shows herpes virus highly prevalent among suburban populations

Results of new study may de-bunk the myth that some elements of society are inherently at low risk for genital herpes or 'immune' to herpes. The study recruited 5,732 patients from surgeries in relatively affluent areas in six US cities (Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver). It found that the blood samples from over a quarter of people (25.5 percent) tested positive for the HSV-2 virus that typically causes recurring genital herpes, despite the fact only four percent reported a history of the condition.

The rates of genital herpes infection may even have been higher in this group since the study only tested for infection caused by HSV-2 and not HSV-1 (normally associated with facial herpes or cold sores). Rates of genital herpes caused by the HSV-1 virus has been steadily rising both in the US and across Europe.

The researchers confirmed that HSV-2 genital herpes infection rates
nevertheless were high even among suburban, educated and mid-high income populations.

These findings were presented at the 15th Biennial Congress of the International Society for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research (ISSTDR) in Ottawa, Canada in July.

"These results help to break the myth that there are certain types of people 'immune' to herpes," said Douglas Fleming, M.D., lead study author and Senior Clinician Researcher at the Mathematical Policy Research, Inc. in Princeton, NJ. "One of the reasons herpes continues to spread is because very few people with the virus know they have it. In order to help manage the spread of the disease, both doctors and patients need to be aware that everyone who is sexually active is at risk."

Although studies have shown that genital herpes infections are high nationwide, many primary care physicians (PCPs) in suburban areas do not feel the national rates are representative of their patients. In addition, most people who carry the virus never recognize the signs of infection and are therefore unaware they have the disease. This lack of recognition and testing often results in the herpes virus being unknowingly passed to others.

"Knowing that herpes is highly prevalent among affluent and educated people living in the suburbs should help to erase some of the stigma so commonly associated with the disease," said Dr. Ruth Westheimer, America's leading sex and relationship therapist. "The prevalence statistics should not be used to scare people, but encourage everyone to always practice safer sex, including the use of condoms, to get tested, and to learn how to help prevent the continued spread of the disease."

"One of the major barriers to prevention in the US is what we call the 'herpes disconnect," says IHA Chair, Charlie Ebel, "which is essentially a denial of personal risk. There are many Americans who understand that herpes affects 25% of the population but who assume it couldn't happen to them. This important new study reinforces the need for education and openness - and also for better prevention strategies, including vaccines."

*The study was sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline.