Study: Neonatal herpes is most common in Midwest

Neonatal herpes is more prevalent in certain parts of the U.S., according to research published in the journal Pediatrics.

A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that incidents of herpes infections in newborns occur more frequently in the Midwest region of the country, which reports a neonatal herpes rate of 12.9 for every 100,000 births.

The national average is 9.6 per 100,000 births.

Researchers also determined that the rate of transmission is much higher among individuals covered by Medicaid than those using private insurance.

Approximately 15 in every 100,000 Medicaid-insured births involve neonatal herpes, which is transmitted from mother to child during childbirth.

While Cesarean section may reduce the risk of transmission, sexual health screenings are essential in preventing the spread of the disease among adults.

Those who believe they have contracted herpes or another sexual infection may benefit from purchasing online testing services.

An estimated 85 percent of untreated neonatal herpes cases end in death, according to the Merck Manual’s Online Medical Library.