Herpes is perhaps the most common sexually transmitted disease in America today. In addition to ongoing sexually transmitted disease prevention activities, CDC is now working in consultation with other public health experts to develop a national plan which will specifically address the prevention of herpes. The plan will address development of comprehensive national prevention guidelines, outline enhanced monitoring of levels of herpes in the U.S., and propose new educational activities for health care professionals and the general public. HSV-2 is usually transmitted sexually and causes recurrent painful ulcers in many adults and potentially fatal infections in infants.
Herpes can also be severe in people with suppressed immune systems.
Symptoms of herpes can be treated, but the disease cannot be cured. We believe herpes plays a major role in the heterosexual spread of HIV in this country. Preventing herpes can help us stop both epidemics. This may be related to the higher efficiency of transmission from men to women and to higher prevalence of infection in sexual partners. Herpes is believed to be most infectious when sores and blisters are present, but can be transmitted even when there are no symptoms.