Genital Herpes: Say it With Conviction

Disease is everywhere. Every day hospitals around the country are flooded with patients. The world is essentially one giant germ factory so it no surprise that so many people catch viruses from their friends or co-workers. In many cases, the situations are easily fixed and some aren’t. People take medication for a little while and then go on with their lives, while others take time to heal up while sick. Being sick is seen as an inconvenience but tolerated because it will pass. However, there is another kind of sickness and unlike the flu or a simple skin rash, some of these illnesses can last a lifetime. Genital Herpes has no known cure and yet according to the center of disease control, roughly 16.2% of Americans have the virus. That means that nearly 1 out of every 6 people that you run into each has already contracted Herpes. Luckily, there are ways you can protect yourself and others from becoming infected. The number of Genital Herpes cases in the United States could be greatly reduces, if only every person were force to take responsibility for public health. The virus that causes genital herpes is known as the Herpes Simplex Virus and it comes in two forms. The first form is the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), which generally affects the mouth and lips. This form can be spread to the genitals through oral contact with the genitals, or through any sexual encounter with an infected person. The second form is Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2); this is the main source of infection for herpes today and can pass through sexual contact with a person infected with HSV-2. Both versions can spread, even if the infected person is showing no signs of any symptoms and usually the case why people end up having it. When symptoms do occur, they tend to come in waves. The first wave sometimes creates blisters near the rectum or