Most Americans Have Herpes
Thursday, March 5th, 2009Most Americans have herpes in some form, the most common types are Herpes Simplex type 1 (HSV type 1) and Herpes Simplex type 2 (HSV type 2).
HSV type 2 is the form of herpes that most commonly causes genital herpes. You can become infected with HSV type 2 during sexual contact with someone who has genital herpes even if the outbreak is not active. The infection causes painful sores (lesions) on the genitals in both men and women.
HSV type 1 is the form of herpes virus that is usually associated with cold sores of the mouth. They are also known as “fever blisters.” You can become infected with HSV-1 by coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person.
It is a fact that HSV type 1 can actually cause genital herpes, the result of oral-genital sexual contact with a person who has the oral HSV-1 infection, and HSV type 2 can cause cold sores.
Herpes can be treated but not cured. It remains temporarily dormant in the nerve cells after an outbreak. It is believed to be more contagious during active periods when blisters are present, but it can be transmitted from person-to-person without active lesions.
Duke University of North Carolina conducted a study of herpes and found a glimmer of hope for a cure. “Inactive virus is completely untouchable by any treatment we have. Unless you activate the virus, you can’t kill it,” said Bryan Cullen, who oversaw the research. Jennifer Umbach, working with her team of researchers, found that a gene called LAT controls microRNAs that turn off other genes in the virus They speculate that it may be possible to “wake up” the virus and then kill it with standard antiviral drugs such as acyclovir.
The point that Duke University made about killing herpes once it has become active is important to herpes sufferers. You can kill the herpes virus once it is exposed. When erupting lesions appear the herpes virus is vulnerable and the viral population can be reduced. There is a very strong antiviral antibiotic that is non-prescription that kills the herpes simplex virus on contact. I use this product and recommend it without hesitation to anyone suffering from herpes.