ATLANTA — About one in six Americans aged 14–49 years is infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and 81% of these individuals are unaware of their infection, according to data presented at a conference on STD prevention sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 in a national survey conducted from 2005 to 2008 was 16%, with women and African Americans disproportionately affected. Rates of infection were almost twice as high in women than in men (21% vs. 12%) and were more than three times higher in African Americans than in whites (39% vs. 12%). The population most affected was African American women, who had a herpes prevalence of 48%.
“As stark as these disparities are, they are not substantially different from CDC's previous estimates of these populations,” said the lead study author, La'Shan Taylor, Dr. P.H., an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the CDC.
These estimates, based on data gathered from 7,293 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), indicate that the prevalence of HSV-2 has remained stable since the 1999–2004 estimate of 17%, which had followed a decreasing trend in herpes prevalence that had occurred in the last decade, down from 21% in 1988–1994.
The prevalence of HSV-2 increases with age, from 1.4% among 14- to 19-year-olds to 26% among 40- to 49-year-olds, reflecting the lifelong, incurable nature of the infection. Those with a higher number of lifetime sex partners were also more likely to have HSV-2 infection, with the prevalence ranging from 4% among those with 1 lifetime sex partner to 27% in those with 10 or more partners.
Biological factors among women may increase their susceptibility to HSV-2 infection, and that complex social, biological, and environmental factors could contribute to the higher HSV-2 prevalence among African Americans, Dr. Taylor explained. “Once this disparity exists, herpes infections are likely perpetuated because of the higher prevalence of infections within black communities,” she said.
Dr. John M. Douglas, director of CDC's Division of STD Prevention, commented that the high prevalence of herpes in African Americans is particularly concerning given the linkage between HSV-2 infection and HIV. Studies have shown that individuals with genital herpes are two to three times more likely to acquire HIV infection, and that HSV-2 coinfection increases the likelihood of transmitting HIV. Dr. Douglas suggested that the high rates of genital herpes among African Americans might be contributing to the high rates of HIV in this population.
And because visible sores are not necessary for transmission, “many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it,” Dr. Douglas said.
Disclosures: Dr. Douglas and Dr. Taylor have no conflicts of interest related to this study, according to a spokesperson for the CDC.
'Many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it.'
Source DR. DOUGLAS