Herpes simplex viruses: seroprevalence versus disease

• Seroprevalence in United States

  • HSV-1 : ~175 million (70%)
  • HSV-2: ~ 50 million (20%)

• Severity of disease

HSV-1† HSV-2†

80% 75%

1% 2%

~0.02% ~ 0.02%

(35,000) (10,000)

unaware of infection:

frequent recurrences ( > 4 / yr):

serious disease (per yr):

†seropositive

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