U.S. herpes rates remain high - CDC
2:43pm EST

*1 in 6 Americans infected with herpes

*Highest rates found among blacks, women

*

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - About 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 are infected with genital herpes, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

Black women had the highest rate of infection at 48 percent and women were nearly twice likely as men to be infected, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 21 percent of women were infected with genital herpes, compared to only 11.5 percent of men, while 39 percent of blacks were infected compared to about 12 percent for whites, the CDC said.

There is no cure for genital herpes, or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and also increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus. It is related to herpes simplex virus 1, or oral herpes, which causes cold sores.

Several drugs are available to treat herpes symptoms and outbreaks, including acyclovir, which is available generically or under the Zovirax brand name, and valacyclovir, known generically as Valtrex –– both made by GlaxoSmithKline PLC <GSK.L>. Ganciclovir, sold as Zirgan, is made by privately-held Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.

The CDC estimates that more than 80 percent of people with genital herpes do not know they are infected.

"The message is herpes is quite common. The symptoms can be often very innocuous," Dr. John Douglas of the CDC said in a teleconference.

"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," Douglas said.

Douglas said the increased rate of infection in blacks is not do to increased risk behavior but likely due to biological factors that make women more susceptible as well as the higher rate of infection within black communities.

The CDC estimates that there are 19 million new sexually transmitted disease infections every year in the United States, costing the health care system about $16 billion annually.

(Editing by Paul Simao)

Quoted:
A 1 in 2 chance a black woman has herpes?

Holy moly.

Quoted:


Douglas said the increased rate of infection in blacks is not do to increased risk behavior but likely due to biological factors that make women more susceptible as well as the higher rate of infection within black communities.

)

Quoted:



So the increased rate of infection is partially caused by the higher rate of infection? Did I read that correctly?


Um...why is he partially blaming the increased rate of infection in BLACKS on biological factors common to ALL women regardless of skin color?

Quoted:







I read that five times over and had that exact same reaction.

Now we know why they are always mackin on the white girls, they are hoping their shit won't get rotted off after a little lovin.
 

Quoted:



So the increased rate of infection is partially caused by the higher rate of infection? Did I read that correctly?


Um...why is he partially blaming the increased rate of infection in BLACKS on biological factors common to ALL women regardless of skin color?

Quoted:



http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0923528620100309





Douglas said the increased rate of infection in blacks is not do to increased risk behavior but likely due to biological factors that make women more susceptible as well as the higher rate of infection within black communities.

Quoted:


I'll bet whoever wrote that could balance my checkbook.

Quoted:



So the increased rate of infection is partially caused by the higher rate of infection? Did I read that correctly?


Um...why is he partially blaming the increased rate of infection in BLACKS on biological factors common to ALL women regardless of skin color?

The numbers are deceptive: blacks are 12% of the population and 40% are infected (5 in 12). While hispanics (15% of the population) are either ignored or lumped in with the whites and others (the remainng 88% of the population). Perhaps they were lumped in with blacks? I am pretty sure hispanics fall somewhere between whites and blacks contribution wise. Thus, dragging the numbers for whites irresponsibly higher than they actually are. Seeing as blacks (12% of the population) constitute 5 of the overall 16% infected that leaves just 11 infected that are not black, two thirds of which are female… resulting in fewer than 8 non black females and fewer than 4 non black males. Far from a crisis for white guys. (blacks guy 2/6, white guys 4/43… its a huge problem for the blacks compared to whites, no wonder our health insurance premiums are so high… if only the sick had to pay for themselves they might stop doing those things that plague them disproportionately.
SoulLeister

Quoted:







Aren't circumcision rates lower among black males?


 

Quoted:
snatched this quote from the comments section, not all that great with math but the numbers seem in range:

Quoted:
A 1 in 2 chance a black woman has herpes?

Holy moly.

Quoted:


Clearly the CDC is both racist and sexist.

Quoted:
I had the hots for a woman until I heard her phone in a prescription for Valtrex.  

Quoted:



I had the hots for a woman until I heard her phone in a prescription for Valtrex.  

Quoted:


Working in an ER, I can tell you that looks alone are pretty deceiving.  Seen plenty of clean, attractive looking females with vag's that would set your dick on fire

Quoted:


But look at the bright side - you would be inspired to write a great song from the experience. It would go something like...."Whooaaaooh, this sex is on fire..."
 

Quoted:
Working in an ER, I can tell you that looks alone are pretty deceiving.  Seen plenty of clean, attractive looking females with vag's that would set your dick on fire

Quoted:
This is what happens when a government decriminalizes sexual immorality, disease and death.

Quoted:
This is what happens when a government decriminalizes sexual immorality, disease and death.

Quoted:
This is what happens when a government decriminalizes sexual immorality, disease and death.

Quoted:


How about always use a condom unless married, even in a relationship.  I know of several examples of a woman attempting to get pregnant to "keep" a man.

Quoted:
This is what happens when a government decriminalizes sexual immorality, disease and death.

Quoted:







Tell me you are not serious. You want criminal charges for getting some ass? Is Herpes a felony or a misdemeanor in your world?



Oh and last time I checked criminalizing death is a zero sum argument. No way to prosecute the offender.



Most of the posts that you make have me doing this
because I don't know if you are serious or if you just live in a basement.

Quoted:
Working in an ER, I can tell you that looks alone are pretty deceiving.  Seen plenty of clean, attractive looking females with vag's that would set your dick on fire

Quoted:
My interpretation of this study is that 21% of women have slept with me.

Sounds about right.

Quoted:







Tell me you are not serious. You want criminal charges for getting some ass? Is Herpes a felony or a misdemeanor in your world?



Oh and last time I checked criminalizing death is a zero sum argument. No way to prosecute the offender.



Most of the posts that you make have me doing this
because I don't know if you are serious or if you just live in a basement.

This is what happens when a government decriminalizes sexual immorality, disease and death.  

Quoted:











WTF? Are you serious?
Perhaps you would be happier in Iranian or living under the Taliban. Very few countries have laws on the books about what consenting adults do sexually.

Quoted:
My interpretation of this study is that 21% of women have slept with me.

Sounds about right.