A recent study has revealed that over 200 million individuals aged 15-49 likely experienced at least one symptomatic outbreak of genital herpes in 2020. The researchers estimate that approximately 846 million people worldwide under the age of 50 are living with genital herpes, highlighting the urgent need for vaccines and new treatments to control its spread.
Genital Herpes Virus (HSV) exists in two types: HSV-1 and HSV-2, both of which are highly infectious and incurable. Current treatment options have shown modest effectiveness at the population level. Researchers estimate that globally 26 million people aged 15-49 were newly infected with HSV-2, while 17 million acquired HSV-1 infection genitally.
The study also found that two-thirds of the global population up to age 49 had been infected with HSV-1, mostly orally. The estimated number of new and existing HSV infections among 15-49-year-olds in 2020 were 42 million and 846 million, respectively. The researchers conclude that there is a significant burden on psychosocial, sexual, and reproductive health due to HSV infections, highlighting the need for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines as a strategic approach to control transmission and curb economic burdens.
The study’s findings emphasize the importance of addressing the global herpes outbreak, which affects millions of people worldwide. With current treatment options showing limited effectiveness, researchers are calling for the development of new vaccines and treatments to combat this infectious disease.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/why-we-need-herpes-vaccines-now-alarming-new-data-revealed