Report shows more than half of pregnant women tested for genital herpes during antenatal clinic survey were infected with the sexually transmitted virus MORE than half of the pregnant women tested for genital herpes during the government’s 2012 antenatal clinic survey were infected with the sexually transmitted virus, a report on the Department of Health’s website shows.The findings reinforce previous studies which showed genital herpes is widespread in Africa, and more common in people who have HIV because this increases susceptibility to infection.Genital herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), and there is no cure. While the disease is not deadly, the blistering caused by the virus can be painful and distressing, and may cause complications in HIV patients.The new South African data on genital herpes are expected to provide a benchmark against which the department can gauge whether there are any changes over time in the age of sexual debut, since the disease is strong...
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