Who's Got Herpes

Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), more commonly and less
affectionately known as genital herpes, is one of the fastest
growing sexually transmitted diseases today. It ranks just
behind human papillomavirus (genital warts) and Chlamydia. The
actual statistics are hard to pin down because unlike the other
two diseases, most people with herpes don't know they have it!

So who's got herpes? Over 50 million Americans!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that over 50
million Americans currently have genital herpes and as many as 1
million new people get it every year. That works out to about
114 new cases per hour. These statistics may actually be even
higher. Evidence suggests that the majority of people infected
with herpes are not aware of it. In a national household study
referenced by the CDC, only 10 percent of the people who tested
positive for the disease knew they were infected!

More Men than Women

Studies show that 1 in 5 women are infected, where as the rate
is 1 in 4 for men.

Race Prevalence

Although quickly growing in the population of Caucasian
Americans, currently their infection rate is over 17 percent.
Rate of infection in the population of African Americans is over
45 percent.

In all 20% of the American population is infected with genital
herpes. That's 1 in 5 persons age 12 and over.