A landmark World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, published in PLOS One, shows that two-thirds of the world's population under 50—67%—are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Primarily transmitted through mucosal contact, HSV-1 causes oral herpes (cold sores) and, in some cases, genital herpes. Highly contagious, it currently has no cure.
University of Bristol researcher Katharine Looker and colleagues analyzed 2012 data across six WHO regions, estimating 3.7 billion infections worldwide. Prevalence is highest in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific; in Europe, 69% of women and 61% of men under 50 carry the virus.
The WHO notes several vaccines in development. For now, antiviral medications can reduce symptom severity and frequency, while avoiding contact during outbreaks is essential.
