The World Health Organization (WHO) says, “around 846 million people aged between 15 and 49 are living with genital herpes infections – more than 1 in 5 of this age-group globally – according to new estimates.
The study was published in Sexually Transmitted Infections. The authors urge for new treatments and vaccines control its spread. A WHO press release says, “at least 1 person each second – 42 million people annually – is estimated to acquire a new genital herpes infection.”
Additional points from the study:
· In 2020, 520 million people had genital HSV-2.
· In 2020, 376 million people are estimated to have had genital HSV-1 infections. Of these, 50 million are estimated also to have HSV-2 because it is possible to have both types simultaneously.
· There were no difference in 2020 estimates of genital HSV-2 in 2020 compared to 2016, but estimated genital HSV-1 infections are higher.
