The World Health Organization (WHO) for the first time provided estimate on the global prevalence of herpes virus. As per the WHO, two-thirds of the world’s population under the age group of 50 years has this highly infectious virus that leads to cold sores around the mouth.

A WHO study has unveiled that over 3.7 billion people under the age group of 50 years have the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). And, 417 million people in the age group of 17 and 49 years have the other form of the disease, called HSV-2, which leads to genital herpes.

In the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a person can suffer from mouth ulcers. But with time, this type of infection is becoming a major reason for genital infection as well, especially in rich nations. Owing to improved hygiene level in affluent countries, HSV-1 rate in childhood is on decline, leaving youngsters at increased of catching the virus due to oral sex.

HSV-2 can increase the risk of HIV. Sami Gottlieb, a WHO medical officer, said, “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”.

Nathalie Broutet, also a WHO medical officer, said that the US National Institutes of Health and companies are carrying out trials to find out if a preventative vaccine can be preferred. Earlier, the trials were stopped after the product was found not effective.