Friendly New Herpes Interface Reassures and Informs
The NZ Herpes Foundation wants you to talk about herpes the same way you might talk about a cold. It’s a virus. That’s
all. Chances are you, or someone you know has the herpes virus: 80% of the population does and most people with herpes
will not have symptoms so aren’t aware they have it.
This week sees the launch of a revamped website that aims to make information easier to access. This coincides with new
information available at pharmacies, the goal of which is to ensure people know what herpes is, how it is spread and how
it can be managed.
Counsellor and researcher Dr. Catherine Cook says: “ Most people who have herpes don’t know, it isn’t an infection that
you can necessarily avoid getting or passing on, so knowing the facts about herpes is key. The new website will help
educate so people know what they’re dealing with and can take appropriate action”.
Genital herpes in particular has long carried a stigma that it’s something passed on by promiscuous people, but anyone
who has ever had sex can get genital herpes, and anyone with a facial cold sore can pass it on via oral sex. It’s not
about your number of partners, being clean, dirty, good or bad – it’s about being ordinary and sexually active.
The NZ Herpes Foundation wants to break down barriers to talking about herpes openly for a couple of key reasons, one is
to educate people on how herpes is spread and the other, to acknowledge that herpes is a part of life for a large number
of people, and not something to be ashamed of:
“We need to talk about sex and health so that people can get the information they need. It’s important to normalise
herpes so people are empowered to seek help. We need to be thinking, “talking about sexual health is an ordinary part of
life”, says Catherine.
The refreshed website is aimed at making it easy to access information in a straightforward format, acknowledging that
whilst a herpes diagnosis may be unsettling, it’s far from a life sentence and can easily be managed.
To see the new look website click here: http://www.herpes.org.nz
ENDS