Herpes is one of the most common viruses in the world. In fact, if you don’t carry herpes, you’re pretty unusual. Most people with herpes don’t even realise they carry the virus. Only 1 in every 10 people will notice any symptoms.

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about herpes. Here is where you’ll learn about what herpes is, how normal it is to carry herpes, and what research is being done into the condition.

What is herpes simplex virus?
A relatively harmless virus carried by the majority of most populations. Only 10% of carriers will notice symptoms. In a small number of people the virus causes visible symptoms, at their most obvious these symptoms take the form of a cold sore, either orally or genitally. Herpes takes up home in the nerves and stays there for the lifetime of the carrier, or until scientists figure out a way to remove it.

What’s the difference between oral and genital herpes?
Almost nothing. There are two kinds of herpes simplex virus, type 1 and type 2. These are also know as HSV-1 and HSV-2.

HSV-1 prefers the mouth, and is more likely to reoccur there, and HSV-2 prefers the genitals. However, as many as 50% of genital infections may be caused by the oral type.

How common is herpes?
Incredibly common. However, it is not common to have symptoms. Most people simply don’t know that they one of the 50-90%+ of adults who carry and transmit herpes. Usually herpes does not cause any symptoms in the carrier. Most people have herpes.

If herpes is so common, why is there all this fuss about it?
Because herpes rarely causes any noticable symptoms, it creates an illusion that herpes is a rare and terrible disease. However, most people carry herpes quite happily, and in countries like Italy, everyone carries herpes (well, 93% do).

So, you say a lot of people carry herpes. Give me some statistics?
In the USA at least 68% of people carry HSV-1 and more than 26% of people carry HSV-2. In the UK, at least 78% of people carry HSV-1 and more than 1 in 4 sexually active people carry HSV-2. This means that almost every adult you meet carries herpes. Surprising, right?

If herpes is so common, they why don’t I hear more about it?
Because only 1 in 10 people with herpes have any symptoms, and usually these symptoms are mild.

Herpes kills babies, right?
In incredibly, incredibly rare cases, yes. To put this in perspective, the last time a baby died from herpes in the UK it was headline news across the country. That’s how rare it is. If you wrote a list of the things a baby might die of, herpes carries a similar risk to getting hit by a car when you leave the hospital. If in doubt, consult your doctor.

Why is there no cure for herpes?
Because herpes hides out in the human nerve structure, the immune system can’t reach it very easily. Our immune systems are actually pretty good at dealing with herpes, but the problem is that the pesky thing keeps making a retreat back into the nerve, where it hides for a while. Sometimes it hides for a few months, sometimes a few years, and sometimes forever. It all depends on how your body copes with herpes.

Scientists have recently discovered that the immune system does actually keep tabs on herpes while it’s hiding in the nerve structure. They hope that one day it will be possible to boost this natural guard system and rid a person of the virus.

There are also many other research projects going on that may one day cure individuals of the virus.