The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently updated the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States: 2021–2025 to include an addendum on herpes (HSV). HSV is widespread in the United States. An estimated 18.5 million adults are infected with HSV-2, which primarily causes genital herpes. It is also estimated that 48% of people ages 14 to 49 have HSV-1 which can cause either oral or genital herpes.
The STI Plan, first released in 2020, sets out a roadmap for preventing and controlling four of the most common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). HSV was not originally included. In 2022, Congress directed HHS to amend the plan to address the prevention and treatment of herpes.
There are many challenges that come with preventing and treating HSV.
The HSV Addendum integrates the latest science in HSV diagnostics, prevention, care, and treatment into the STI Plan in the hopes of overcoming these challenges.
It also prioritizes federal action steps in each of these areas and identifies the agencies responsible for each. These action steps are integrated into the five goals of the STI plan which including preventing new infections, reducing the adverse outcomes of STIs, accelerating STI research and innovation, reducing STI-related health disparities, and coordinating efforts to address the STI epidemic.
In addition to spelling out direct actions that HHS will take, the HSV Addendum is meant to provide a foundation for a broad range of collaborators address challenges of HSV. You can read the HSV Addendum in full here. Future iterations of the STI Plan will incorporate HSV directly.
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ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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