According to a new study by the New York City Department of Health, one in four New Yorkers is infected with genital herpes i.e. a quarter of the NY adults are infected with the herpes virus — an incurable sexually-transmitted disease that can cause painful genital sores and can double a person’s risk for HIV.
The study reveals that 26 % of New York’s residents have the virus that causes genital herpes, with national figure standing at 19%. It also reveals that the infection is far more common among African-Americans, nearing 49 percent on average, and the infection rates are higher in women than men.
The director of surveillance for the Health Department's Bureau of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control, Julia Schillinger says, "Genital herpes alone will not cause serious problems for most people, but some people will have painful genital sores, and the infection fosters the spread of HIV."
Viewing the alarming statistics of the study, the New York Health officials advise the NY people to protect themselves and others. In the wake of the study, the health workers are encouraging safe sex and offering free condoms.
Julia Schillinger, the lead author of the study, says, “Using condoms consistently will help you avoid getting or spreading genital herpes.”
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