Herpes common among those under 50

A World Health Organization (WHO) study revealed that more than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 have the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the main culprit behind cold sores around the mouth, The Guardian informed. These individuals have contracted the virus in their childhood.

On the other hand, 417 million people between 17 to 49 years old have the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). This type of herpes virus is almost entirely sexually transmitted and causes genital herpes, which can trigger serious complications such as HIV, AIDS and even encephalitis.

Reuters reported that while better hygiene practices have reduced the incidence of HSV-1 during childhood in rich countries, people are likely to have the virus when they become sexually active, contracting it from oral sex.

The WHO warned that both types of herpes are highly infectious and incurable. While symptoms can be treated with antiviral solutions, these can recur after an initial episode.

The results of the study comes amidst increased demands to accelerate the development of herpes vaccines and topical microbicides.

"We really need to accelerate the development of vaccines against herpes simplex virus, and if a vaccine designed to prevent HSV-2 infection also prevented HSV-1, it would have far-reaching benefits," Sami Gottlieb, a WHO medical officer, said.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have conducted studies to determine whether a therapeutic or preventative vaccine for herpes is more effective in treating the disease.

GSK had previously abandoned a vaccine trial after discovering that a product was somewhat effective against HSV-1, but had no effect at all on HSV-2.

"That was interesting and promising and gave a proof of concept that these vaccines can be developed. There's a lot of work ongoing and we're hopeful that we'll have an HSV vaccine in the future," WHO medical officer Nathalie Broutet said.

Another company, Genocea Biosciences, is focusing its resources on genital herpes research, shelving its earlier plans to develop a pneumonia vaccine.

The herpes virus knows no geographical and racial boundaries. 2012 WHO estimates revealed that HSV-1 affected 178 million women and 142 million men in the Americas; 350 million women and 355 million men in Africa; 188 million women and 202 million men in the Eastern Mediterranean; 207 million women and 187 million men in Europe; 432 million women and 458 million men in Southeast Asia; and 488 million women and 521 million men in the Western Pacific.

Manage HSV-1 symptoms with these natural remedies.