For the report, researchers analyzed results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999 through 2016. The NHANES is unique in that it includes in-person interviews and physical examinations. More than 190,000 people have participated in the NHANES since 1960.
From 1999-2000 to 2015-16, the percentage of American adults with genital herpes dropped from 18 percent to 12.1 percent. Over the same time period, oral herpes rates declined from 59.4 percent to 48.1 percent.
“The report tells us that two of our most prevalent viruses in the U.S population, HSV-1 and HSV-2, are steadily declining,” Geraldine McQuillan, PhD, a CDC researcher and one of the study’s authors, told HealthDay. Dr. McQuillan said other nations are experiencing similar declines in herpes transmission possibly due to “improvements in living conditions, better hygiene and less crowding.”
More articles on infection control:
3 things to know about rapid flu tests
Non-E. coli Enterobacteriaceae nearly 4 times more transmissible than E. coli in ICUs
Hygiene tripods, algorithms and more: How St. Louis University Hospital is battling flu season
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
