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30% of New HIV Cases are Directly Attributable to Herpes Infection

Genital herpes is driving the HIV epidemic - with nearly 30% of new HIV cases directly attributable to herpes. Yet - little is being done to cure treat or prevent herpes globally.

Herpes Cure Advocacy (HCA) is a non-profit advocacy organization with the goal of cure, treatment, and prevention for HSV types 1 and 2. The field of herpes has gained momentum in recent years through the efforts of HCA, including an addendum to the US Department of Health and Human Services 2020 Strategic Plan for STIs that will outline a national strategy to cure, treat, and prevent HSV for the first time.

In November 2022, NIH/CDC held a joint workshop on genital herpes - the first federal meeting for HSV in decades.

In collaboration with our partners at Treatment Action Group (TAG) and AVAC, our mission is aligned to address both HSV and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Given the syndemic nature of HSV and HIV, the development of a vaccine for HSV can prevent transmission and reduce the global burden of both HSV and HIV/AIDS.

As of now, Tuberculosis, MonkeyPox, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been designated as diseases relating to HIV, and while also incredibly important, their link to HIV acquisition is not comparable to HSV. Research by Dr. Larry Corey and colleagues indicated that genital herpes infection is associated with a 2 to 4-fold risk of HIV acquisition and that 30% of new HIV cases are directly attributable to new HSV infection.

We invite all advocates to be #Silentnomore Join us!

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