17% of the US adult population has Herpes. Something like 25% has HPV (the numbers on this are all over the place, but this seems like the most common result of studies).
About one in six Americans (17%) had the genital herpes virus -- called HSV-2 -- during 1999-2004. But that is down from the 21% rate seen in 1988-1994.
But then closes with this, which seems very real world relevant to this thought experiment/theory/whatever you want to call it:
As its name suggests, HSV-2 isn't the only herpes virus out there. HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores, is much more common. As of 1999-2004, 57.7% of Americans carry the virus -- down slightly from the 62% HSV-1 infection rate seen in 1988-1994.
There's some bad news here: HSV-1 is causing more genital herpes than ever before. About 2% of people with HSV-1 infection -- but not HSV-2 -- have genital herpes.
"Our findings are consistent with previous reports that genital herpes caused by HSV-1 may be increasing in the United States, as in other developed countries," Xu and colleagues note.
The researchers warn that the herpes virus that causes cold sores may one day become a more important cause of genital herpes. One factor: The increase in teen oral sex that's helping stop HSV-2 spread may be increasing genital infections with HSV-1.
Frankly I just wish everyone had frigging herpes so we could all stop worrying about it. And, of course, jack up the r&d necessary to remove it from our lives once and for all.
