This Might Sting!
By: Tommy “Tj” Sotomayor

African-American Women at Highest Risk for Genital Herpes

In the largest study of its kind, Sami Gottlieb, M.D., of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver and colleagues found that African-American women are at highest risk for infection with herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2).

Dr. Gottlieb and colleagues analyzed questionnaires and HSV-2 blood tests from 4,128 high-risk individuals visiting STD clinics from July 1993 to September 1996 in five U.S. cities – Baltimore, Denver, Long Beach, Newark and San Francisco as part of project RESPECT, a trial evaluating HIV prevention counseling.

Overall, 40.8 percent (1,684) of the study participants were infected with HSV-2. Infection rates were higher among women (52 percent) visiting the clinics than men (32 percent), and higher among African Americans (48 percent) than whites (30 percent). Infection rates were high even among African American women who had few lifetime sexual partners. The infection rate for African Americans who had only one or two sexual partners during their lifetime was 29.7 percent, compared to 12.9 percent for all other racial groups with one or two lifetime partners.

The researchers also found that only 7.8 percent of African Americans infected with HSV-2 had been previously diagnosed, compared to 23.4 percent of whites. More than one in five Americans is estimated to be infected with genital herpes.

“It is alarming that such a small proportion of people with genital herpes know they are infected, especially African Americans who are at increased risk of infection. It is imperative that we increase awareness and testing for this serious disease,” said Ronald O. Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., deputy director of CDC’s HIV, STD and TB programs.

Study participants were more likely to be infected with genital herpes not only if they were African American or female, but also if they had more than 20 lifetime sexual partners, had been sexually active for more than ten years, had a prior diagnosis of syphilis or gonorrhea, had less than a high school education, or were 25 years of age or older. [“Seroprevalence and Correlates of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) in Five Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics,” S. Gottlieb, et al.]

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CDC: Nearly 50% of Black Women Ages 14 to 49 Have Genital Herpes

Almost one in every two African-American women ages 14 to 49 has genital herpes, as does two out of every five blacks in that age group.

March 15, 2010

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Almost one in every two African-American women ages 14 to 49 has genital herpes, as does two out of every five blacks in that age group, according to data presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at an STD Prevention Conference last week and reported on by the Los Angeles Times. In addition, one out of six Americans in general is living with the virus.

Genital herpes, also known as herpes simplex virus type 2 or HSV-2, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.

“The message is that herpes is quite common,” said John M. Douglas Jr., MD, during a telephone news conference. “Many individuals are transmitting herpes to others without even knowing it.”

The high rate of genital herpes in the black community might be partially responsible for the high incidence of HIV among African Americans, explained Kevin Fenton, MD, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. Research shows that people with genital herpes are two to three more times likely to contract HIV. In addition, HIV-positive people with HSV-2 are more likely to transmit HIV to their partners. About 80 percent of people with the herpes virus are not aware that they have it.

Herpes type 2 can cause recurrent genital sores. There is no cure, but medications can stem the outbreaks and halve the chance of spreading the virus.