Fred Hutch Herpes Cure Research Update 2022 – Well, we have not made a blog post in quite some time. The simple reason is that there really hasn’t been any promising news or updates….until now.
It looks like our friends over at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center have been continuing their fight for a herpes cure and making progress. Dr. Jerome reassured that “We won’t stop in our efforts to find a cure for herpes infections.” While this is definitely reassuring, it may be a long way off as clinical trials of a vaccine are still in the animal testing phase.
Fred Hutch Herpes Cure Research 2016
We first heard of the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center in 2016 when they reached out to us asking if there was any interest in a herpes cure. Naturally, we said, “Yes!” and posted their article about how they were using gene editing to find a cure for herpes. Then things went silent. While a cure was elusive, they have certainly been busy and learned much from their previous work since then.
Herpes Cure vs Vaccine
The next best thing to a herpes cure is a vaccine as it may stop the spread of the virus or greatly reduce the risks. At the very least, it could reduce the symptoms of a herpes outbreak. Viral shedding is what causes the herpes virus to be transmitted from one person to another and the physical outbreak on the skin. In the video, Dr. Jerome discusses how viral shedding has been greatly reduced in their tests. In depth research on viruses has been done due to the Coronavirus but he admits that the herpes virus is much more difficult to develop a vaccine for.
Why A Herpes Cure or Vaccine is So Difficult
The first step in developing a cure for any disease is identifying the cause. In the case of HSV, researchers have been working on this for many years but have yet to identify a single cause. This makes it difficult to develop a targeted treatment or cure.
However, researchers have made great strides in recent years in our understanding of how HSV works and what causes it to flare up. With this new knowledge, scientists are hopeful that a cure or vaccine could be found in the next 10-20 years. In the meantime, treatments will continue to be developed that can help those with HSV manage their symptoms and live normal, healthy lives.
How Herpes Spreads
Herpes simplex virus is transmitted through close personal contact (Sex, kissing…etc) with someone who is infected with the virus during an outbreak when the virus is present or through viral shedding without any noticeable symptoms . Once contracted, the virus remains in the body and can periodically reactivate to cause recurrent outbreaks. The frequency of these recurrent episodes varies from person to person and is influenced by many factors, including viral type, viral load, whether the person has developed antibodies to the virus, and the individual’s immune status.
Living A Normal Life With Herpes
When you read above what herpes actually is, it sounds scary. The majority of people with HSV do not have any symptoms (Asymptomatic) or only experience very mild symptoms that do not require treatment. While exact numbers are not known, it is estimated that 80% or more of the population has HSV1 (Oral herpes. Think cold sores) and 20-25% have HSV2 (Genital herpes).
Most people living with herpes go on to live normal lives, get married, have kids and with partners who may or may not have the virus and without passing the virus to their partners. To be clear, there is always a risk of spreading herpes to a partner but with proper attention, those chances can be greatly reduced.
Sure, there will be speed bumps and an awkward conversation or two along the way but don’t let this stop you from living your best life. The Fred Hutch herpes cure research is still a long way off from discovering a cure, if one is ever found at all. So, don’t put your life on hold for it. The most important thing is to be honest and upfront to any potential partner.
You Don't Have To Do It Alone
Coming to terms with a herpes diagnosis isn’t easy. As a matter of fact, it will probably be extremely difficult, at first. Over time, it will get easier but it is up to you to decide how long that will take. HWerks is here so you don’t have to go it alone. While some come for dating, many others come for support and to find answers without having to sift through a web of information and misinformation. Most importantly, you will see that you are not alone in this journey.
If you think we can help you out in any way or are struggling, consider joining HWerks today.
Until next time, stay awesome!
-Team HWerks
