A study estimating the number of under-50s worldwide who are living with genital herpes has highlighted changing sexual behaviors and the need for many countries to consider more effective ways of curbing the transmission of this incurable disease.

A staggering 846 million people aged 15-49 globally live with genital herpes, with 42 million new infections annually, reveals WHO. Researchers warn that herpes triples HIV risk and can be fatal to newborns.

Over 1 in 5 adults worldwide are living with a genital herpes infection, according to the latest estimates from a new study.

More than one in five people aged between 15 and 49 globally or 846 million people live with a genital herpes infection, according to an estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every second,

Around 846 million people aged between 15 and 49 are living with genital herpes infections – more than 1 in 5 of this age-group globally – according to new estimates released today.

The latest global estimates suggest 846 million people are living with genital herpes infection. The findings are published online in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. And more than 200 million 15–49 year olds probably had at least one symptomatic outbreak of the infection in 2020,

Herpes is more common than you might think — way more common, actually. In 2020 alone, over 25 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 contracted a new genital infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that approximately 846 million people aged 15-49 are living with genital herpes infections, accounting for more than one in five of this age group globally.