Key facts about herpes :
- The herpes simplex virus is mainly two types HSV-1 & HSV-2.
- HSV-1 is mainly transmitted by oral-to-oral contact to cause oral herpes but can also cause genital herpes.
- HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted infection that causes genital herpes.
- Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are lifelong.
- An estimated 3.7 billion people under age 50 have HSV-1 infection globally.
- An estimated 417 million people worldwide aged between 15 to 49 have HSV-2 infection.
- Most oral and genital herpes infections are asymptomatic.
- Symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers at the site of infection.
- Infection with HSV-2 increases the risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV infection.
- The herpes virus can be passed on when there are no symptoms present in the body.
- Daily medication can prevent recurrences of the herpes virus and reduce the risk of transmission to partners.
- Herpes is not present in the blood. People with genital herpes can still donate blood. Genital herpes is only passed through direct skin-to-skin contact or both orally and genitally.
- Once you have herpes at one site, it is rare to then get the same type at another site. This is because your body develops antibodies which prevent this from happening.