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Herpes turnaround surprises experts
The increasing number of cases of herpes simplex-2 (HSV-2) in the United States appears to have been reversed, with a reported decrease in the number of people with the virus in recent years. Unfortunately however, the good news doesn't stretch to herpes simplex virus type 1, which experts believe might actually be gaining ground.
HSV-2 is the virus responsible for most cases of genital herpes and is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections worldwide. HSV-2's cousin, the herpes simplex 1 virus (HSV-1), is typically transmitted during childhood via nonsexual contact and is regarded as a less serious risk to health. Despite its high prevalence however, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes. Both types of herpes can cause serious disorders such as blindness, encephalitis and neonatal infections
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