IUSM receives CDC grant to fight escalation rate of genital herpes

By Joe Stuteville

The disease poses the greatest danger to babies birthed by infected mothers. Though rare, the infants can suffer brain damage, even death, if infected by the virus.

The $2.25 million, three-year grant is being used to develop strategies to prevent genital herpes simplex infections and to build a national prevention program, the first of its kind in the United States. The University of Cincinnati is collaborating. Dr. Kenneth Fife is principal investigator at IU.

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) of which there are two types. HSV-1 commonly causes fever blisters on the mouth or face; HSV-2 typically attacks the genital area. Genital herpes can be transm itted with or without the presence of sores or other symptoms.

The CDC reports that more than 45 million people 12 and older (one of five of the total adolescent and adult population) are infected with HSV-2. IUSM will focus on issues related to testing for exposure to HSV-2 in adults