An estimated 85% of the world’s population is infected

Many herpes carriers don’t even realize they are infected. However, the roughly 30% of herpes sufferers who have recurrent infections and the 1% who suffer severe recurrences every month have learned that, with proper treatment, it’s easy to live active, normal, healthy lives.

There are two types of the Herpes simplex virus:

Herpes simplex type I (HSV-1)and Herpes simplex type II (HSV-2). Both types can cause both genital and oral herpes (cold sores or fever blisters), although HSV-1 is most often associated with oral herpes and HSV-2 most often causes genital herpes. Both types remain dormant immediately after infection, and may remain so unless certain conditions cause the virus to travel—via the nervous system—to the area where sores and lesions develop.

Because it is not possible to kill the virus in the body, there is no known cure for herpes, however herpes medication can help prevent outbreaks, reduce outbreak severity, and help accelerate recovery.