CDC Analysis Shows Genital Herpes Rates Remain High

Roughly 16% of U.S. residents ages 14 through 49 are infected with genital herpes, making it one of the nation's most common sexually transmitted infections, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis released on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

CDC noted that infection rates for the lifelong and incurable infection varied by gender and race. Twenty-one percent of U.S. women are infected with genital herpes, compared with 11.5% of men. Blacks have a 39% infection rate, compared with 12% among whites. Forty-eight percent of black women are infected with genital herpes, the analysis showed. According to CDC, biological factors, not behavioral patterns, likely are responsible for the variations in infection rates between genders and races. Women are biologically more susceptible to the virus, and black communities tend to have higher infection rates, according to John Douglas of CDC.

Eighty percent of people infected with genital herpes are unaware of their status, the report said. Douglas said, "Because herpes is so prevalent it becomes ... a really important reason to use condoms on a consistent and correct basis with all of your partners."

Genital herpes can cause recurrent, painful genital sores. Although there is no cure, several medications are available to control symptoms and outbreaks. Infection with genital herpes also increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting HIV. CDC estimates that the U.S. health care system spends roughly $16 billion annually on STIs and that 19 million new people acquire STIs each year (Allen, Reuters, 3/9).


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