How far away is a cure for herpes?

The Herpes Cure Progress

Just how far away is a cure for herpes?! Herpes refers to an infection as a result of the herpes simplex virus. It has two main types, namely oral herpes and genital herpes. Also known as cold sores, oral herpes appears as painful and annoying fever blisters on the mouth. Meanwhile, genital herpes affects the genital region of the body, whether the vagina or penis.

Treating these infections follows the usage of antiviral drugs. Although these are already proven effective after years of study and research, having a cure is still the best option for millions of infected individuals.
 

Why hasn’t there been a cure for herpes to date?

Well simply put, the nature of the virus that causes the herpes infection to occur is one of the main reasons why is there has not yet been a cure for herpes. The virus hibernates in a person’s nerve cells for an extended period. Kind of like a black bear in the winters. Its ability to hide within our system makes it challenging to understand its mechanism and patterns. The herpes simplex virus needs to be active for medical experts to tackle before it becomes dormant again.

Although antiviral drugs are available to suppress the severe effects of this infection, they are just not enough. The functions of these drugs are only practical when outbreaks occur or prevent recurrent episodes. It means that no treatment eliminates the virus from the body completely.
 

Will there ever be a cure for herpes?

What seems to be an elusive achievement, will there ever be a cure? The answer is Yes. It may not be so soon, but given the ongoing clinical trials and research, a herpes cure is very achievable.

In the absence of a herpes cure, people can use other treatment options. Antiviral drugs are available, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir, and penciclovir. Additionally, a new drug called pritelivir is under clinical trials to improve treatment for herpes. Pritelivir can be an alternative treatment if individuals cannot take acyclovir.

Besides these drugs, medical experts are also studying the potential use of vaccines for preventing herpes acquisition. It is already an achievement in herpes cure progress that helps people stay safe from the infection.
 

What’s the takeaway here?

Using herpes antiviral drugs for treatment is not enough. People with the infection must also be responsible for preventing viral transmission. One of the safety measures they can follow is abstaining from any sexual activity if an outbreak is present. Prevent having sexual intercourse if symptoms exist. Use protection during sexual contact, as herpes transmission is still possible if symptoms are absent.

Sources:

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-is-there-no-cure-for-herpes
fredhutch.org/en/news/center-news/2020/08/herpes-simplex-gene-therapy.html