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July 21, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Vaccine May Slow Herpes Epidemic”

Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com) (07/21/03) P. F3; Marsa, Linda

The most advanced version of a vaccine that battles the sexually transmitted disease herpes is not perfect: it does nothing to protect men against the disease but has shown some promise in reducing the risk of women contracting herpes when their partners are infected.  Given that some protection is better than none, researchers are continuing their efforts to study the vaccine in the hopes that they will gain more knowledge about the disease and its spread.  Herpes is already prevalent among Americans, with 20 percent of teenagers and adults infected with herpes simplex virus type 2, which causes genital herpes, and 50 percent infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, which causes cold sores.  The disease is spread easily because very few infected people know they have the disease due to mild symptoms, but it remains of serious concern to epidemiologists because it makes infected people more susceptible to contracting HIV.  In addition, neonatal herpes, contracted by babies from their mothers, can be fatal for infants.