It's time to be open about herpes
The New Zealand Herpes Foundation says it’s time that Kiwis were more open about genital herpes.
People need to know that it’s a common condition that can be easily managed in most cases, says Claire Hurst, project
coordinator of the New Zealand Herpes Foundation.
Ms Hurst says that despite the wide availability of patient information on genital herpes through doctors’ surgeries,
the Foundation still gets 250 calls a month on its tollfree information line from people concerned about the condition.
This week (eds: 10-16 October) the international herpes lobby is tackling the issue head on with the theme of “I have
herpes, don’t you?” for International Herpes Week. The challenging banner was chosen to highlight the fact that up to 20
per cent of the sexually active adult population carry genital herpes. Yet, despite the fact that the virus is so
widespread, many people affected by genital herpes feel embarrassed or ashamed. International Herpes Week aims to tackle
this perceived stigma and improve understanding of herpes. Ms Hurst said most of the people with herpes in New Zealand
remain unaware that they carry it, because they have very minor, atypical or no symptoms. Sometimes symptoms are
confused with other urinary or genital complaints. However, even without visible signs of herpes present, carriers can
pass on the virus to other sexual partners and therefore diagnosis and treatment is important.
“Over half of people who have genital herpes get it from partners who are unaware they have the infection,” said Ms
Hurst. For those who do experience symptoms, the first signs can include flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, tingling,
irritation or itching in the genital region and aching in the legs and buttocks. Individuals experience different
symptoms and these may differ for each herpes outbreak. These can be followed by an outbreak of blisters that break and
can dry to form crusts and later heal. Outbreaks differ for individuals; for some small blisters may appear and
disappear quickly, sometimes unnoticed. The New Zealand Herpes Foundation, now in its 10th year, is also trying to
tackle the perception of herpes as a social stigma.
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"This can act as a barrier, discouraging people from seeking medical help or talking openly with their sexual
partners,” said Ms Hurst. “The aims of International Herpes Week are to challenge this outdated perception of what is a
very common condition; to reassure people that herpes can usually be effectively managed; and to encourage them to talk
openly and honestly about their condition.
“Often the psychological distress for a person with herpes far outweighs the physical symptoms which for most people are
minor. For those that have problematic symptoms there is an effective oral antiviral treatment available on a doctor’s
prescription,” said Ms Hurst.
The Foundation has just distributed updated guidelines on genital herpes to 4500 medical and health professionals, along
with patient information. Leaflets on ‘Genital Herpes The Facts - a guide for people with genital herpes”; ‘Facial
Herpes”; “Herpes and Relationships – managing genital herpes” and “Herpes in Pregnancy” are also available from the New
Zealand Herpes Foundation website http://www.herpes.org.nz.
The Foundation’s toll-free information telephone line is 0508 11 12 13.
The theme of the stigma associated with genital herpes was explored last week at the Conference on Sexually Transmitted
Infections organised by the International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) in Myconos Greece on 7-9
October 2004. A satellite symposium on Friday 8 October considered The Management of Genital Herpes in the Modern World
- Addressing the Myths. (Eds: The press materials can be downloaded from the International Herpes Week section of the
IHA website http://www.herpesalliance.org)