Members of the herpes-coldsores forum plan to raise awareness of herpes research by writing letters to Oprah Winfrey, the influential American chat-show host. The forum members intend to persuade Oprah to devote a show to the common herpes-simplex virus known as HSV-1 and HSV-2. Together the viruses are carried by as many as 90% of people in most populations.

The letter-writing campaign aims to raise awareness of how normal it is to carry herpes, and also to stimulate investment in new herpes treatments.

Although the majority of the US, Australian and UK populations carry herpes, only a minority have any visible signs of the condition. Only 1 in 10 carriers are aware they have the virus. Over 68% of Americans carry HSV-1, and more than 1 in 4 Americans carry HSV-2, often referred to as ‘genital herpes’, although either type can occur genitally.

If you would like to get involved with the letter-writing campaign, click here to visit the herpes-coldsores forum.