According to statistics issued by New York’s health and nutrition examination survey, 28 percent of the people in the age group of 20 – 49 were found to be infected with herpes. This is certainly higher than the national average of 17 percent. It was also revealed that about 26.1 percent of people in the age bracket of 14 – 49 years had the virus.
The survey employs various techniques and methods such as laboratory tests, physical examinations as well as personal interviews to access the nutritional status and health of a particular section of the popular and draw trends over a stipulated period of time. As this is the first time that a survey was conducted on the people of New York, there are currently no statistics available to show whether the rate has appreciated or declined.
The survey also reveals that some groups of Americans were disproportionately affected by the herpes simplex virus. For instance, the herpes simplex virus – 2 strand of the infection was found to be more prevalent in women than in men (35.6% versus 19%). It was also observed that herpes tends to affect black people more than their white counterparts (49% versus 14.1%).
Homosexual sex was also found to be one of the major reasons behind the spread of herpes among the New York city people. The rate of herpes transmission among men who had sex with other men was found to be 32 percent as opposed to 18% in those who don’t. According to this report, here are some of the factors that increased the rate of transmission among the people of New York:
- People who have had sex before 18 years of age.
- Those having more than 10 sex partners.
- Having been diagnosed with Chlamydia or gonorrhea.
It is also worth noting that 88.4 percent of the New York individuals that were diagnosed positive for genital herpes were previously undiagnosed. This survey involved 1,999 people out of which 1784 were tested positive for herpes. This only goes on to show the asymptomatic nature of the herpes simplex virus. Despite the fact that this virus may not show symptoms all the time, the chances of transmission aren’t any less.
Regardless of whether you have cold sores or are experiencing an outbreak, you’re as likely to spread the infection through body fluids. Direct physical contact with the infected areas of the body too results in transmission even when you’re not maintaining intimacy.
Herpes is proving to be a major issue worldwide. Although this isn’t life threatening, as there is no cure for it, once you are infected, you have it forever.
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