The<unk>  is of substantial epidemiologic and public health interest. Worldwide, the rate of infection with<unk>  simplex virus—counting both HSV-1 and HSV-2—is around 90%. Although many people infected with HSV develop labial or genital lesions<unk>  simplex), the majority are either undiagnosed or display no physical symptoms—individuals with no symptoms are described as asymptomatic or as having subclinical<unk> . In many infections, the first symptom a person will have of their own infection is the horizontal transmission to a sexual partner or the vertical transmission of neonatal<unk>  to a newborn at term. Since most asymptomatic individuals are unaware of their infection, they are considered at high risk for spreading HSV. Many studies have been performed around the world to estimate the numbers of individuals infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 by determining if they have developed antibodies against either viral species. This information provides population prevalence of HSV viral infections in individuals with or without active disease. Note that there are population subgroups that are more vulnerable for HSV infections, such as cancer chemotherapy patients. Seroprevalence estimates for HSV-1 and HSV-2 Location Year(s) Prevalence (%) HSV-1 HSV-2 Total Female Male Africa Benin 1997–8 – 30 12 Cameroon 1997–8 – 46–51 24–27 Central African Republic 1998–9 99 82 – Eritrea 1995 84–97 23 24–27 The Gambia 1998–9 – 29–32 5 Kenya 1997–8 – 68 35 Mali 1991–7 93 43 – Morocco 1991–7 99 26 – South Africa 1999 – 53 17 Tanzania 1992 – 42 19 Uganda 1989–93 91 71 36 Zambia 1997–8 – 55 36 Zimbabwe 1993–8 – 67 36-53 Asia Bangladesh 1996–8 46# 8–14 – China 1987–95 – 18–29 17 Israel 1998–9 70 5 4 Japan 1985–93 50–60 1–17 2 Jordan 40 15-30 Denmark 1986 76 31 – Finland 1966–89 – 26–31 – Germany 1996–7 87 15 11 Greenland 1986 98 68 – Italy 1981–8 81–93 1–5 0–5 Norway 1992–4 79 27 – Spain 1992–3 79 4 4 Sweden 1989–93 41# 21–33 – Switzerland 1997 65–87 22 11 UK 1984–95 69–78 5 3 North America Canada 1999 57 13 – United States 1988–94 68* 26* 18* # in children * Ages 12-70
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