Herpes simplex viruses dip in prevalence.Two viruses that cause genital herpes Genital Herpes Definition Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a herpes virus. The disease is characterized by the formation of fluid-filled, painful blisters in the genital area. , herpes simplex herpes simplex (hûr`pēz), an acute viral infection of the skin characterized by one or more painful, itching blisters filled with clear fluid. virus-1 and -2, decreased in prevalence in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. during the past 2 decades, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. in Atlanta. Among some 9,000 people tested between 1988 and 1994, 21 percent had been exposed to HSV-2, which is the main cause of genital herpes worldwide. A similar survey conducted between 1999 and 2004 suggested that 17 percent of U.S. residents had been exposed. Prevalence of HSV-1, which causes cold sores frequently and genital herpes occasionally, fell from 62 percent during the first study period to 57.7 percent during the second period. However, the proportion of HSV-l-infected people who reported developing genital herpes from the virus rose from 0.4 percent to 1.8 percent. The study didn't determine the cause of the decreases in virus prevalence.--B.H. |
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