EFN

While the country has become increasingly educated on the risks of obtaining and spreading a sexually transmitted disease, it seems that the education is not working to curb the spread of these diseases.

According to figures released by the CDC earlier this week, one out of every six Americans who are between the ages of 14 and 49 have genital herpes. The rate of infection is highest for black women as nearly 50% of African American women within the same age group have the disease.

Overall, the rate of people in that age group with herpes has remained relatively stable. An estimated 16% of Americans in that age group have the disease. From 1999 through 2004, 17% of Americans in the same age group carried the disease.

In total, about 19 million people across the United States are currently infected with HSV-2. The cost of treating these people is devastating to the American health care system. It is estimated that almost $16 billion is spent treating these people each year.

While the rate of herpes infection is high, the scariest statistic is how many people may not know that they carry the disease. The CDC estimates that 4 out of every 5 people with the disease may not be aware that they are a carrier.