Genital herpes is a 'forgotten' virus. But that doesn't mean it's gone away.

Over 800 million people have genital herpes — and in many cases the virus can flare up over a person's lifetime, causing painful symptoms. So why doesn't the world pay more attention?

Genital herpes is a 'forgotten' virus. But that doesn't mean it's gone away.
An image of the human herpes virus, HSV, taken with transmission electron microscope. Two types can cause genital herpes: HSV-1 and HSV-2.

Over 800 million people have genital herpes — and in many cases the virus can flare up over a person's lifetime, causing painful symptoms. So why doesn't the world pay more attention?

(Image credit: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)