Sources & disclaimer
Where this information comes from
This guide is built on public health authorities and peer-reviewed medical references. Figures and statements are drawn from the sources below.
Key sources
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World Health Organization — Herpes simplex virus (fact sheet).
Global prevalence estimates (3.8 billion people under 50, ~64%; ~376 million genital HSV-1 aged 15–49), transmission, symptoms, asymptomatic shedding, treatment, and that antivirals do not cure the infection. who.int
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World Health Organization — global HSV estimates (2020).
Updated modelling of HSV-1 and HSV-2 prevalence and incidence worldwide. who.int
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Herpes Simplex Encephalitis — StatPearls, National Library of Medicine (NCBI Bookshelf).
HSV as the most common cause of sporadic fatal encephalitis; untreated mortality up to ~70%; importance of early antiviral treatment. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection — Merck Manual & clinical literature.
Mortality of untreated disseminated neonatal disease (~85%) and long-term neurological outcomes in survivors. merckmanuals.com
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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Genital Herpes.
General background on HSV transmission, symptoms and management. cdc.gov
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Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infections — Merck Manual (Consumer Version).
Overview of oral and ocular HSV, herpetic whitlow, eczema herpeticum, and disease in immunocompromised people. merckmanuals.com
Full medical disclaimer
This website provides general educational information about HSV-1 for the public. It is not medical advice and must not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. It cannot account for your individual circumstances and is no substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.
Always seek the advice of your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified clinician with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay professional advice because of something you read here. Statistics are population-level estimates from the sources above and may be updated as new research emerges.
In an emergency — including the warning signs on the Serious Risks page — contact your local emergency services immediately.
Links to external sites are provided for reference. We are not responsible for the content of external websites, and a link does not imply endorsement.