25% of New Yorkers have Herpes!
Hoping to sleep with the other 75%…
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Now might be the time for New Yorkers to take advantage of the free condom campaign the city promotes. A new study by the city’s Health Department found more than a quarter of adult residents are infected with the herpes virus.
According to the study, 26 percent of city residents have the virus that causes genital herpes, an incurable sexually-transmitted infection that can cause painful genital sores and can double a person’s risk for HIV.
Nationally, 19 percent of the population has the infection, according to the department.
More specifically, the study showed that the rate is higher among women than men – 36 percent compared to 19 percent – and was higher among blacks than whites – 49 percent versus 14 percent, respectively.
It also found the rate was higher among gay men than heterosexual men – 32 percent compared to 18 percent.
“Genital herpes alone will not cause serious problems for most people,” said Dr. Julia Schillinger, Director of Surveillance for the Health Department’s Bureau of STD Prevention and Control and lead author of the study. “But some people will have painful genital sores and the infection fosters the spread of HIV. We advise New Yorkers to protect themselves and others. Using condoms consistently will help you avoid getting or spreading genital herpes.”
The data come from the city’s Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used door-to-door interviews and in-person medical exams to assess the health of New Yorkers on a variety of measures, from diabetes to depression, according to the department.
The study was the city’s first measurement of those infected with the virus. Herpes is not the only STD above the national rate in New York City. Rates of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and infectious syphilis were also higher than the national rate
July 19, 2008 at 5:44 am
Condoms are not 100% effective in preventing the spread of herpes. Health officials need to speak to the public like adults or things will only get worse. You can were a condom and still catch herpes. Public health officials should stop treating condoms like they are a silver bullet, they are not even close. Condoms are a great deal better than no protection but, when health officials present condoms as an all inclusive solution they are doing people a great disservice. Look at what is happening in New York; I’m pretty sure a lot of these people who were infected were using condoms. All sexually active adults need to get the appropriate BLOOD serology tests done to see if they are infected with any virus.
November 16, 2008 at 12:06 am
This Black guy is way off…. Of course nothing is 100% effective… but condom’s are better than nothing. AND they can help prevent the spread of HIV and Herpes and other STD’s…. so USE them. No they are not bullet proof… but they do offer a great deal of protection.
This black guy says; “I’m pretty sure a lot of these people who were infected were using condoms.” How does he know? Was he there? lol