Virulence of genital herpes may vary by country, researchers say

Strains of genital herpes found among African populations may be significantly more treatment-resistant than those that have been discovered in the U.S., according to a recent study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Researchers said that this finding may partially explain why HIV is so prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, since individuals who have genital herpes are more susceptible to the immunodeficiency virus. They explained that HIV pathogens target high concentrations of immune cells, such as those that are exposed due to open sores.

The study's results showed that laboratory rodents that were infected with African strains of genital herpes required vaccine doses five times higher than those with the American subtype in order to treat their infections.

In the U.S., more than 16 percent of people between the ages of 14 and 49 suffer from genital herpes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization explains that although there is no cure for the sexually transmitted disease, antiviral treatments may help reduce the frequency and severity of an individual's sore outbreaks and decrease the chances of transmission to partners.