Herpes infectious without symptoms

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Herpes infectious without symptoms

Researcher urges routine screening

By Ostrow, Bloomberg / April 13, 2011

NEW YORK — People who have genital herpes can transmit the disease even when

they don't show any visible signs of infection, suggesting that routine tests

are needed to help curb the infection, researchers said yesterday.

The herpes virus was detected about 10 percent of the time in people who tested

positive without any symptoms of the infection, according to research published

in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In those with symptoms, the

virus was present about 20 percent of the time.

The findings quantify the risk of spreading genital herpes, or herpes simplex

virus type 2, even when those infected don't have a visible outbreak, the

researchers said. The condition affects an estimated 536 million people

worldwide and is most often acquired through sexual contact with people who

don't show symptoms, researchers said. Vaccines and tests are needed to reduce

the spread, said study author Wald.

" HSV-2 infection is very common in the population, but most people don't know

that they have genital herpes,'' Wald, a professor at the University of

Washington in Seattle, said in a telephone interview. " The most important

message is if you're sexually active in this country, it's best to get tested.''

Each year, about 23.6 million people ages 15 to 49 get the disease, the authors

said. In the United States, only 10 percent to 25 percent of those with the

virus are aware they have it, the authors wrote.

Herpes has two forms and there is no cure. Type 1 usually causes blisters near

the mouth known as cold sores or fever blisters. Type 2 creates painful sores

near the genitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From March 1992 to April 2008, the researchers tested 410 people who were

positive for genital herpes and had a history of infection, and 88 people who

were positive and hadn't had symptoms. Swabs of genital secretions were

collected from participants for an average of 57 days. DNA testing was used to

measure whether the virus was present and could be transmitted to other people.

Bruce Hirsch, an attending physician in infections disease at North Shore

University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., said more studies are needed to show how

much virus has to be present on the surface of the genitals to infect another

person, and if there are ways to boost the immune system to help stop the

disease from spreading.

London-based GlaxoKline makes the antiviral pill Valtrex, which is approved

to treat symptoms and reduce the frequency of outbreaks. Closely held Actavis

Group makes a generic version of the medicine. Novartis AG's Famvir is cleared

to treat or suppress outbreaks of herpes, and Pharmaceuticals Inc. makes

a generic version of the medicine.

The amino acid lysine has been found in studies to reduce symptoms and

outbreaks.

Genital herpes is generally not included in standard screenings for sexually

transmitted disease, Wald said.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/04/13/herpes_infectious_without_\

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