Genital Herpes Vaccine to Be Tested

[Guest guest]

It would be nice if more responsible behaviour and less promiscuity

prevented sexually transmitted diseases, wouldn't it?

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" Many people will walk in and out of your life but only true friends will

leave footprints on your heart. "

________________________________________

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2003/12/31/hscout516688.

html

Genital Herpes Vaccine to Be Tested

--Dennis

TUESDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDayNews) -- A study sponsored by the National

Institutes of Health will evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccine believed

to prevent genital herpes in women.

The study will focus specifically on women aged 18 to 30 years old who have

not contracted herpes. Nationwide, more than 7,500 women will participate at

more than 20 sites.

It will be conducted by the UCLA Center for Vaccine Research in

collaboration with Southern California colleges and universities.

About 20 percent to 25 percent of the population has the virus that causes

genital herpes, which annually affects about a half-million new people.

There is no vaccine to prevent its spread, and no cure.

The study follows earlier clinical trials of the vaccine involving more than

7,400 men, women, teens and adults. In those studies, the vaccine protected

nearly three-quarters of women who had no prior evidence of the viruses that

cause herpes outbreaks.

" We are long overdue for vaccines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases,

which impact millions of adults and newborns worldwide, " says Dr. I.

Ward, director of the center for vaccine research. " Prevention must be a

high priority if we are to impact the rising tide of genital herpes

infections. "

Women interested in participating in the study can call nurse practitioner

and study coordinator Lynes at (310) 781-3693 or (800) 637-8860, or

e-mail her at llynes@....