A report recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that more than half the world's population carries the herpes simplex virus, commonly known as oral herpes. Among the findings included in the report are statistics showing that 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 carry the type 1 (HSV-1) virus, which is is primarily transmitted through mouth-to-mouth contact and usually manifests as cold sores. This is two-thirds of the world's population in that particular age group.
Because there are, at present, no permanent or curative treatments for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, WHO is working with several partners to develop multiple HSV vaccines and topical microbicides.
